Governor Martin O’Malley recently announced a multitude of good news for the Chesapeake Bay, Maryland’s green economy and Crassostrea virginica, the Bay’s native oyster: According to the State’s recently completed fall oyster survey, the number of spat or baby oysters in Maryland waters is at its highest level since 1997, the survival rate for young oysters is also up, and more Marylanders are looking to start up or expand aquaculture businesses.
“Even as our population stood at 1 percent of historic levels, we did not give up… and we now have exciting new evidence that — like our blue crab — our native oyster has not given up either,” said Governor O’Malley. “We now have reason to be more optimistic than ever about the recovery of this iconic species, a recovery that would further improve water quality, create green jobs and support local economies.”
“Moving forward, it is our responsibility to strengthen our restoration commitment, our enforcement actions and our investment to further to protect our future broodstock,” added Governor O’Malley, who has proposed a $25 million investment in the Chesapeake and Coastal Bays Trust Fund in his FY 2012 budget.
Since 1939, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and its predecessor agencies have monitored the status of Maryland’s oyster population via annual field surveys — one of the longest running such programs in the world. The survey tracks three critical components of the population: Spatfall Intensity, which measures reproduction levels (recruitment) and offers a window into future population levels; disease infection levels; and annual mortality rates of oysters.
“For more than 15 years, the State and its partners have aimed to jump-start Mother Nature by investing in building the necessary infrastructure, deploying billions of oyster spat on shell and reclaiming thousands of acres buried shell from derelict oyster reefs. Now, it seems she’s fighting with us,’ said DNR Secretary John Griffin. “These animals are proving just how resilient they can be given the right circumstances.”
The 2-month 2010 fall population assessment, which encompassed 260 oyster bars and 399 samples throughout the Bay and its tributaries, concluded on December 18. At nearly 80 spat (baby oysters) per bushel, the 2010 spatfall is the highest since 1997, and about 5 times the 25-year average of 16.
“The increased spat set is an immediate asset to Maryland’s expanded sanctuary program,” said DNR Fisheries Director Tom O’Connell. “These protected oysters will grow and reproduce, contributing more oysters to the Bay’s sanctuary and surrounding aquaculture and public fishery areas, and providing important ecological benefits such as water filtration and reef habitat.”
Eleven of the 53 oyster bars included in this index had their highest or second highest spat counts since 1985. The elevated spatfall was a coast-wide phenomenon, with other mid-Atlantic states also reporting better than average numbers. View chart