03/29/2023
Yesterday, on Sunday March 26th, the National Shellfish Association in Baltimore, MD began. You have until March 30th to explore and learn about the management of shellfish resources - clams, mussels, scallops, snails, shrimp, lobsters, crabs, and one of our personal favorites... OYSTERS!
Comprehensive pre-restoration habitat surveys are conducted as part of the Chesapeake Bay large-scale oyster restoration program in tributaries selected by the Maryland Oyster Restoration Interagency Workgroup. Pre-restoration surveys determine whether areas can support oyster restoration and guide choosing the most appropriate restoration treatment. ORP conducts systematic pre-restoration habitat surveys using patent tongs, which are commercial oyster gear efficient at sampling benthic conditions, particularly oyster reefs. Data gathered from the patent tong survey includes bottom type, habitat quality, and pre-existing oyster density, which are used to generate habitat score maps that inform restoration decisions and provide a baseline to assess restoration progress. Habitat suitability scores revealed that 300 acres were suitable for restoration using spat-on-shell (SOS) only, and an additional 120 acres are currently being evaluated. This information will help guide restoration efforts in the Manokin River over the next three years to meet the Chesapeake Bay Program oyster restoration goals.
Photos by E. Guy Stephens/Southern Maryland Photography