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Updated: October 9, 2023

Maryland Shellfish Aquaculture Industry-2021 at a Glance (FS-2023-0672)

After facing a number of challenges in 2018-2020, the shellfish aquaculture industry in Maryland rebounded in 2021 with a record harvest for oyster aquaculture and the first reported farm-raised bay scallop harvest. The number of leases and acres leased for shellfish aquaculture remained largely consistent with 2020, but oyster harvest increased to a record high of over ninety thousand bushels and a dockside value of over $6 million (Maryland Department of Natural Resources, 2022). Authors: Shannon Hood, Matthew Parker, Cathy Liu, Fredrika Moser, Allen Pattillo, and Donald Webster; Title: Maryland Shellfish Aquaculture Industry: 2021 at a Glance (FS-2023-0672)
Updated: May 12, 2023

Remote Setting

Remote Setting is a method of producing seed that was developed in the Pacific Northwest. It relies on hatcheries to produce oyster seed up to the eyed pediveliger stage just prior to the time when the animals get ready to undergo metamorphosis, attach to a substrate and become spat.
Image of remote setting tank at Horn Point Lab
Updated: December 1, 2022

Maryland Oyster Aquaculture Industry in 2020 at a Glance (EBR-62)

Overview of Maryland’s oyster aquaculture industry as of 2020, including context, cumulative harvest data, monthly harvest data, lease totals, and leased acreage, with historic data provided to indicate change over time. Authors: Shannon Hood, Jim LaChance, Cathy Liu, Fredrika Moser, Matthew Parker, and Donald Webster; Title: Maryland Aquaculture Industry in 2020 at a Glance (EBR-62).
Updated: March 7, 2022

Aquaculture Programs

University of Maryland Extension has conducted quality educational programs for aquaculture development for over four decades. These have included outreach training for the production of finfish, shellfish and aquatic plants. Our longest running programs have encouraged the production of oysters and clams, which are important resources for economic growth, employment and the environment.
Oysters
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.
Image of Hatchery tanks full of oysters
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.
Underwater oysters
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.
Oysters
Updated: February 1, 2022

Contained Culture

Several types of contained culture gear are currently used in Maryland - bottom cages, midwater gear, and surface floats.
Image of Horn Point Laboratory's Oyster Demonstration Farm
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.
Image of Hatchery tanks full of oysters
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.
Oyster shells