Dear Friends of ORP,
In 2024, ORP celebrated its 30th "Pearl" Anniversary. Our mission—to restore the economic and ecological value of oysters—is as vital as ever, and we experienced firsthand how these two goals are mutually reinforcing.
For the first time in our history, ORP's work resulted in more oysters planted on public oyster grounds than on sanctuary reefs. Maryland's commercial watermen and Bay communities are bolstered by their harvest, and as they grow and mature to market size, they will filter harmful pollutants from the Bay’s waters, spawn new generations, and offer crucial habitat for our iconic blue crabs and rockfish.
We also made significant progress towards one of the most ambitious goals in Bay clean-up history: rebuilding sanctuary oyster reefs in five Maryland rivers. Work is complete in Harris Creek, as well as the Tred Avon, Little Choptank, and St. Mary’s Rivers. The reefs in these rivers are self-sustaining, water quality has improved, and abundant habitats have returned. Next year, we will complete the Manokin River sanctuary. We look forward to celebrating this remarkable achievement with the State of Maryland and our partners!
Looking ahead to 2025, ORP recently completed an innovative consensus building process to support comprehensive oyster management and restoration in Eastern Bay, and we are excited to translate this framework to restore shallow-water habitats in other Chesapeake Bay tributaries. We are collaborating with local governments and other partners to fully implement oyster restoration Best Management Practices to achieve water quality goals, and are finalizing efforts to develop and utilize alternative substrates for large-scale restoration and habitat enhancement. More details about these and other milestones follow in this report.
Thank you for championing the transformative power of oysters and standing with us in our mission to restore the native oyster. Every achievement we celebrate is a testament to your support. Please sustain this vital progress with a year-end gift.
Eastern Bay Oyster Coalition Workgroup
The Eastern Bay Oyster Coalition was convened by the Oyster Recovery Partnership to support the State of Maryland’s goal to develop an integrative and inclusive approach to oyster restoration and management. Bringing together leaders from the oyster industry, citizens, NGOs, and government stakeholders working in Eastern Bay, the Coalition focused on collaboratively improving oyster production in a way that balances sustainable oyster harvest, ecological restoration, and diverse stakeholder needs. The recommendations developed through the Coalition process will be submitted to the State for evaluation and implementation, and released in a comprehensive report in early 2025.
Supported by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the Environmental Protection Agency, and Chesapeake Bay Program, this innovative effort represents a groundbreaking step toward sustainable oyster management in Eastern Bay, and provided an opportunity to develop a new strategic framework for shallow water habitat restoration that can be translated to other Chesapeake Bay tributaries.
Special thanks to the Coalition members and our project partners, Facilitated Solutions and Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center, for making this project a success and for their commitment to a healthy and sustainable Eastern Bay.
Public Reef Replenishment
ORP supported 11 Maryland counties in sustaining public oyster grounds, achieving a record-breaking year for public fishery replenishment. 2024 marks our first year to trial the planting of alternate materials on harvest reefs. Altogether, approximately 462 million spat-on-shell, 15,000 bushels of wild seed, 233,000 bushels of shell and 260 tons of recycled concrete were planted to enhance oyster harvest and support a thriving fishery. This achievement underscores ORP’s commitment to balancing ecological restoration with the needs of Maryland’s seafood industry.
These efforts were made possible through funding from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (Maryland DNR). Additional spat-on-shell was able to be planted in 2024 through mitigation funds from the Everforward grounding and Maryland DNR’s targeted restoration efforts in Eastern Bay. Special thanks to the Maryland County Oyster Committees and other representatives from the Maryland oyster industries for their collaboration on these projects. We would also like to extend thanks to the various vendors that contributed shell, substrate and larvae resources to the success of this program including Bevans Oyster Company, Cowarts Seafood, Wittman Wharf Seafood, Madison Bay Seafood, H&K Group, LLC. and several oyster hatcheries within the Chesapeake Bay region.
Photo credit: Jordan Paige Studios
Oyster Sanctuaries
The large-scale sanctuary restoration partnership concluded the 2024 planting season with 348 million oysters planted on 74 acres of sanctuary reefs in five Maryland waterways: the Manokin, Little Choptank, and Tred Avon Rivers, as well as Herring Bay and the Severn River. Efforts focused on the Manokin River sanctuary, the fifth and final tributary identified by Maryland under the 2014 Chesapeake Bay Agreement, with the goal of completion in 2025. Heavy rainfall in the spring caused widespread challenges to oyster production across the East Coast. Despite reduced hatchery and natural production compared to 2023, ORP made significant progress toward annual restoration goals.
Thank you to our restoration partnership - UMCES Horn Point Oyster Hatchery, Maryland DNR, NOAA, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Maryland Watermen - for another successful year.
The Marylanders Grow Oysters (MGO) program engages over 2,000 volunteers to nurture young oysters during their most vulnerable first year of life. This summer, those volunteers planted approximately 4 million oysters they cared for into 30 Chesapeake Bay tributaries!
This summer, 12 million spat-on-shell were planted in the Severn River in partnership with the Severn River Association.
Alternate Substrates
ORP continues to lead collaborative initiatives to identify solutions to the oyster shell shortage. In 2024, ORP conducted market research and tested the suitability of alternate substrates both in the field and at the UMCES Horn Point Oyster Hatchery. ORP remains an active member of the Oyster Shell and Substrate Task Force, which is coordinated by the Maryland DNR.
Monitoring
ORP continued to assess oyster restoration success in 2024. Monitoring results are used to adaptively manage the reefs and inform future restoration needs. Our data suggest that reefs are thriving and restoration goals are being met. Learn more in the recently released 2022 and 2023 Oyster Monitoring Report.
Oyster Restoration for Water Quality Goals
In 2023, the Chesapeake Bay Program and EPA approved the Oyster Expert Panel Best Management Practices (BMP) recommendations for oyster restoration and harvest practices to help meet Chesapeake Bay water quality goals. ORP is actively pursuing partnerships and funding opportunities to implement these recommendations.
ORP’s Shell Recycling Alliance collects oyster shells free of charge from public drop sites and restaurants throughout the Mid-Atlantic making it the largest oyster shell recycling network in the nation. This year, nearly 27,000 bushels of shell have been recycled from 170 participating restaurants and 70 public drop sites. Since the Alliance's launch in 2010, ORP has reclaimed 330,000 bushels of shell, equivalent to 10,000+ tons kept out of landfills.
As you enjoy oysters at home or with Shell Recycling Alliance member restaurants, know that you are contributing to Bay restoration and a healthy oyster population.
Electronic Harvest Reporting
In 2024, ORP continued its support for Maryland DNR’s Fishing Activity & Catch Tracking System (FACTS), an electronic harvest reporting program utilized by over 1,300 participants across Maryland’s commercial fisheries.
ORP also began collaborating with Maryland DNR on a new initiative funded by NOAA's Fisheries Information System program to explore the requirements and challenges of implementing trip-level electronic dealer reporting throughout the Chesapeake Bay. This effort has included facilitating four collaborative sessions with regional fisheries managers at Maryland DNR, Virginia Marine Resources Commission, and the Potomac River Fisheries Commission. Additional sessions with harvesters and dealers are planned for early 2025, highlighting ORP’s commitment to advancing modernized reporting tools.
Photo credit: Jay Fleming
Aquaculture
ORP is making measureable progress in developing the Maryland Farm Aquaculture Reporting and Management (FARM) application, a business tool for shellfish leaseholders to streamline inventory management, simplify reporting, and provide a centralized hub with management tools, maps, and communication features. Development began in October following productive pilot meetings with leaseholders and Maryland DNR staff to refine the app’s features and align it with regulatory needs. Beta testing is set to begin in 2025, marking an exciting step forward for Maryland’s aquaculture industry.
ORP also conducted mapping and verification of six aquaculture leases in partnership with the USDA’s Natural Resource Conservation Service. The effort will help guide leaseholders in planning and planting activities to optimize oyster production.
ORP supported two aquaculture farms by purchasing and deploying oysters in sanctuaries in Eastern Bay through The Nature Conservancy’s SOAR program. The SOAR program provides economic benefits to oyster farms while providing ecological benefits to existing oyster habitat.
The 2024 World is Your Oyster Fest was a monumental celebration of ORP's 30 years of restoration! The event highlights included the Tito’s Handmade Vodka Shucking Competition, where reigning champion Francisco Lopez of the Walrus Oyster & Ale House defended his title, and engaging "Shuck Like a Pro" workshops sponsored by Flywheel Digital. Over 650 attendees enjoyed gourmet seafood, and U.S. Senator Ben Cardin received the inaugural "Pearl of the Chesapeake" award for his steadfast support of oyster restoration. With over 8,000 oysters consumed and $45,000 raised, WIYO was a fun and successful event!
A huge thank you to WIYO's Platinum Sponsors: Beltway Companies, Maryland’s Best Seafood, Constellation, Jim and Jan Perdue, and Wither Hills.
National Oyster Week
Why celebrate oysters for just one day? ORP and Maryland's Best Seafood expanded National Oyster Day (Aug. 5) into National Oyster Week—a seafood lover's dream! This event encouraged savoring Maryland oysters and highlighted the importance of shell recycling. With 61 participating restaurants serving oysters every way imaginable, the celebration gained official recognition from Governor Wes Moore and made waves across the DMV with widespread media coverage.
Department of Agriculture Secretary Kevin Atticks (center) presents Governor Moore's Maryland Oyster Week Proclamation to Patrick Hudson (left), owner of True Chesapeake restaurant in Baltimore, and Paul Schurick (right) of ORP.
Partnership is Essential
ORP is one of many allies collaboratively working to help restore oysters to the Chesapeake Bay. Our partners are key drivers of and contributors to this important work. Many have already been recognized in this report.
We would also like to thank the following for their support: Annapolis Baygrass Music Fesival, Bay Paddle, Clyde's Restaurant Group, Constellation, CSX, Black Eyed Susan Spice Company, Bourbon & Bowties, Bumble Bee Seafoods, Chesapeake Coffee Roasters, Distinguished Vineyards, Flying Dog, George's Beverage Co., Guinness Open Gate Brewery, Kim Hovell, McCormick & Co., Old Bay, Old Ebbitt Grill, Phillips Seafood, Route One Apparel, Smyth Jewelers, TerrAscend, the US Naval Academy, and Wither Hills.
FINANCIALS
Credits:
Oyster Recovery Partnership