MD Oyster Season To Stick Around A Bit Longer

ANNAPOLIS, MD — The commercial oyster season is being extended for watermen after many waterways and parts of the Chesapeake Bay froze during a brutal winter that saw temperatures repeatedly stay below freezing.

Maryland's Department of Natural Resources said it would implement a two-week extension to help watermen make up time for lost harvesting.

The season, which originally was due to wrap on March 31, will now run until April 14.

The department indicated that handscraping for oysters in hand tong areas will not be allowed, and current gear restrictions and bushel limits remain in effect.

“Maryland’s watermen have faced a difficult oyster season after recent declines in market demand and ice on waterways blocked access to traditional harvest areas,” said Josh Kurtz, who serves as the DNR secretary.

"DNR made this decision after extensive conversations with industry stakeholders and scientists."

The move comes as watermen have reported steep declines in oyster sales across the region, despite data that shows oyster populations have skyrocketed over the last few years and that numbers have reached their highest in over 20 years.

Kurtz underscored that the department is "confident that extending the season will not affect the ongoing resurgence of oysters in the Bay and local rivers."

Earlier this month, Rep. Andy Harris issued a letter to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration requesting an emergency disaster declaration. The step would provide immediate aid to watermen.