Oyster Farming | University of Maryland Extension

Updated: June 24, 2022

Considerations for Shell Use in Oyster Rehabilitation Assessing the Effectiveness of Multiple Options (FS-1140)

Authors: Donald Webster - Donald Meritt

There has been much concern regarding the precipitous decline in Mid-Atlantic oyster production, with various groups attempting to place blame and espouse causes. However, it is instructive to veer away from traditional arguments to compare oysters with traditional agricultural crops for a different view of the problem and a vision for potential solutions. Comparing the production of oysters with other crops allows us to examine how those have been managed over time to increase production. The United States today is considered a world leader in food production. Taking lessons from that development and applying them to oysters could help guide the restoration of the industry that once flourished. Authors: Donald Webster and Donald Meritt; Title: Considerations for Shell Use in Oyster Rehabilitation Assessing the Effectiveness of Multiple Options (FS-1140)

Updated: February 2, 2022

Oyster Hatchery

Oyster hatcheries have gained a detailed understanding of the oyster life cycle and critical components. They can manipulate conditions during certain periods of the oyster life cycle to extend their spawning season well beyond a natural spawning season, and they can augment production by providing highly suitable food and other conditions to maximize efficiency and production.

Updated: February 2, 2022

Bottom Culture

The traditional method of oyster production is bottom culture using a Submerged Land Lease (SLL) granted by the State of Maryland. This creates a landlord/tenant relationship between the grower and the State, allowing the leaseholder to grow oysters using methods that mimic a natural oyster reef.

Updated: February 2, 2022

Advanced Lease Management

University of Maryland Extension is assisting aquaculture farmers through education and workshops to demonstrate how to gather data to make more informed decisions about their leases and animals.

Updated: December 16, 2021

Oyster Hatchery

Hatcheries give a detailed understanding of the oyster life cycle and critical components. They can manipulate conditions during certain periods of the oyster life cycle to extend their spawning season well beyond a natural spawning season, and they can augment production by providing highly suitable food and other conditions to maximize efficiency and production.

Updated: August 16, 2021

Oyster Management

Aquaculture has long been used in Maryland to help manipulate public harvest areas, as well as for private production of oysters.

Updated: August 4, 2021

Aquaculture Policy

A brief history and overview of aquaculture industry, political changes, as well as the problems and potential solutions for aquaculture farmers.

Don Webster presenting at ALEI Conference

Updated: August 4, 2021

Meet the Maryland Aquaculture Industry

Maryland offers both traditional Submerged Land Leases as well as Water Column Leases and, with the development of a Regional General Permit with the US Army Corps of Engineers, has been able to make permits easier to obtain. There are also Nursery Permits for those producing seed.

Updated: August 4, 2021

Aquaculture Business - Getting Started

Starting a shellfish aquaculture business requires many important decisions. These include: what type of gear to use; what markets to target with your products; where to find a suitable lease and what type to apply for; how to make out the applications; where to find financing; and many others that can make or break the business.

Updated: February 3, 2021

Remote Setting Systems: Producing Spat on Shell Oyster Seed for Aquaculture

Authors: Don Webster - Don Meritt - Stephanie Alexander

Remote setting is a technique that uses hatchery larvae to produce spat on shell for planting oyster grounds. The method has been successfully employed as a key part in building the Maryland oyster aquaculture industry. This manual covers system components, operation and management and is used for training new growers and for reference by experienced ones to enable them to produce quality seed for planting leases.