Seafood

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Several types of contained culture gear are currently used in Maryland - bottom cages, midwater gear, and surface floats.

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.

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

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.