Chesapeake Bay News

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is now accepting applications for new aquaculture permits under new oyster leasing regulations. DNR will also be announcing its overall oyster management budget including a package of technical and financial opportunities for aquaculture ventures later this month to help accelerate the growth of this industry in Maryland and create new jobs.

Regulations to implement the State’s new Oyster Restoration and Aquaculture Development Plan became effective on September 6.  The regulations identify thousands of new acres open to leasing for aquaculture; establish a new application process and rules for aquaculture; identify areas off limits to leasing to support a continued public oyster fishery; and identify the State’s new network of oyster sanctuaries, which are expanding from 9% of the Bay’s remaining oyster bars to 25%, including some of the most productive bottom.

The plan was reviewed through a public process that included more than 150 meetings.  Numerous adjustments to the initial proposal were made to accommodate the concerns of affected stakeholders, including commercial watermen, members of the aquaculture industry, recreational fishermen, the environmental community, Marylanders Grow Oyster participants and other interested citizens.

“The newly adopted plan is very reasonable given the status of the Bay’s oyster population and interests of all of Maryland’s oyster stakeholders,” said Secretary John Griffin, “However, I have offered the commercial oyster industry one last opportunity to propose changes that meet our objectives for oyster restoration and aquaculture development, are based on industry consensus, and honor the supportive comments of our many other stakeholders.” The majority of affected counties submitted proposals by the September 2, 2010 deadline and they are currently under consideration.

Since 1994, the Chesapeake Bay’s oyster population has languished at 1 percent of historic levels; the amount of oyster bars has decreased 80% from 200,000 to 36,000 and the number of harvesters has dwindled from 2,000 in the mid 1980s to just over 500 annually since 2002. Today there are only eight oyster processing companies in Maryland, down from 58 in 1974.

Stakeholders can View the new sanctuaries and leasing areas at www.dnr.maryland.gov/fisheries.

Information on the leasing application process is available at http://www.dnr.state.md.us/fisheries/news/story.asp?story_id=88

source: MD DNR

The Magothy River Association, in conjunction with the state sponsored “Marylanders Grow Oysters” program, is again recruiting oyster gardeners for the 2010-2011 season. If you have access to a pier on the Magothy River, and can spare a few minutes every week or so, you can do this!  The MGO program is free to all participants.

This is at least a one year commitment. The oysters you grow will be placed on restored oyster reefs in the Magothy River in the summer of 2011.  We ask that you consider taking a new batch of oysters at that time to start the process over again.

This year the logistics are slightly different.  Many of you still have cages ready for the new spat. Many of you participated last year but turned in your cages. Many of you will be starting fresh in the program. When signing up, please indicate the following scenarios that apply:
1. I have __ cages and would like to participate again.
2. I participated last year but do not have the cages. I would like __ cages.
3. Last year, the location where I picked up my cages was _______________.
4. I am new to the program and will take up to four cages.

To sign up, send an e-mail to magothyriversavers at yahoo.com with your name, street address, phone, e-mail, and above information. A picture of the cage can be found at the below web site. The cut-off for signing up is September 1, 2010.

The oyster-spat pickup is tentatively planned for a weekend in September. Details will be sent as the program evolves.

For more information please visit the following website: http://www.h2006.net/MRAOys01

Nearly 1,000 interested citizens have taken the time to review and comment on Maryland’s Oyster Restoration and Aquaculture Development plan since Maryland announced the new proposal in December. About half of those who provided input did so at four open houses hosted by Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) Fisheries Service during the month of January.

“The open houses were an integral part of our public process,” said DNR Secretary John Griffin. “Hundreds of Marylanders took the opportunity to learn about the plan, talk directly to managers, give suggestions and voice their opinions – and every single comment is being reviewed.”

Participants in the outreach sessions included watermen concerned about a change in regulations, participants in Maryland’s citizen oyster-growing program that are eager to improve the oyster population. people interested in learning more about aquaculture opportunities, and Marylanders who would like to see the sanctuary network expanded further than the plan proposes.

“While the overwhelming majority of comments have been supportive of the plan, we are reviewing all public input, and are also actively working with stakeholders from the industry, sport fishing and environmental communities. We entered the process with a willingness to consider modifications to the proposal if the changes mitigate concerns and still achieve the Department’s objectives,” said DNR Fisheries Service Director Tom O’Connell.

DNR has extended the schedule to allow adequate review of public comments, and currently plans to submit the Governor’s regulatory proposal in March. A final round of public hearings will occur in April and May. After considering all public comments, DNR will then adopt a final version of the proposed restoration and aquaculture development plan. If adopted, the regulation could be effective as soon as June 28, 2010.

As proposed, the plan will: increase Maryland’s network of oyster sanctuaries — from 9 percent to 24 percent of remaining quality habitat; increase areas open to leasing for oyster aquaculture and streamline the permitting process; and maintain 76 percent of the Bay’s remaining quality oyster habitat for a more targeted, sustainable, and scientifically managed public oyster fishery.

Since 1994, the Chesapeake Bay oyster population has languished at 1 percent of historic levels. Over the past 25 years, the amount of suitable oyster habitat has declined by 80 percent—from 200,000 acres to just 36,000 acres. Maryland’s annual oyster harvest has fallen from an average of 2.5 million bushels in the late 1960s to about 100,000 bushels a year since 2002, while the number of oystermen working Maryland’s portion of the Bay has dwindled from more than 2000 to just 550.

“Throughout this process, our goal and the goal of Governor O’Malley has been to protect jobs today while creating a more sustainable and growing future, both for oysters and our struggling industry,” said Secretary Griffin. “This is why the plan maintains significant opportunities to harvest wild oysters while also helping to stabilize and revive oyster populations, and provide a bridge for watermen interested in new aquaculture opportunities.”

To mitigate short-term economic impacts to the industry, DNR is developing watermen work programs to facilitate restoration efforts. Funding for these efforts comes from $15 million of federal blue crab fishery disaster money and state capital funds, received in response to a request from Governor O’Malley and former Virginia Governor Tim Kaine, and advocacy by the Maryland Congressional Delegation. Watermen will be assisting the Department in rehabilitating oyster bar habitat and retrieving ghost (abandoned) crab pots this winter.

Aquaculture is now the predominant means of shellfish harvesting around the world; next door in Virginia it is already a $30 million business. University of Maryland economists estimate that over the next several years, our oyster aquaculture plan could create 225 full-time equivalent jobs and generate $25 million in annual economic impact.

Public comments by email or regular mail can be submitted to:

fisheriespubliccomment@dnr.state.md.us

Fisheries Service
Attn: Oyster Open House
Tawes State Office Building
580 Taylor Ave
Annapolis, MD 21401

The full open house poster presentation is available at: http://dnr.state.md.us/fisheries/oysters/pdfs/OysterOpenHouseFINAL2a.pdf.

source: DNR press release

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Fisheries Service will hold a public meeting Monday June 22, 2009, at the Northeast Community Center to discuss the possibility of establishing new aquaculture enterprise zones (AEZs), which are areas of the Chesapeake Bay approved for raising of aquatic animals. At the meeting, DNR representatives will discuss the role of AEZs and start public discussion over the newly proposed sites.

A new bill introduced in the 2009 session of the Maryland General Assembly requires the Department to establish the zones. Tonight’s meeting will discuss the possibility of establishing new AEZs in the Patuxent, West and Rhode Rivers.

“AEZs are essential for promoting the growth of Maryland’s aquaculture industry,” said DNR Fisheries Director Tom O’Connell. “Having these areas approved early will allow for a streamlined lease process that will get projects into the water more quickly.”

The meeting will be held in Room C at the Northeast Community Center located at 4075 Gordon Stinnett Ave., Chesapeake Beach, MD 20732.

Those who cannot attend may view maps of the sites and submit their comments at:

http://www.dnr.state.md.us/fisheries/regulations/draftregulations.htm

Comments will also being accepted by fax at 410-260-8310 or by mail to Fisheries Public Feedback, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, 580 Taylor Ave., B-2, Annapolis, MD 21401. All comments are due back to the Department by June 28, 2009.

On May 7, 2009, Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley signed into law a new Aquaculture Shellfish Leasing bill (Senate Bill 271/House Bill 312) that revamps leasing laws to make it easier for watermen and others to grow shellfish in the Bay. The bill, developed out of recommendations from the Oyster Advisory Commission, is another one of Governor O’Malley’s Smart, Green and Growing initiatives from the 2009 Legislative Assembly.

“Expanding opportunities for shellfish aquaculture in Maryland waters is vital to the health and economic prosperity of the Chesapeake and coastal bays,” said Governor O’Malley. “These changes will not only help restore important aquatic populations – like our native oyster – but also create jobs for Maryland’s working families.”

The new law will create aquaculture enterprise zones, and streamline the permit process in the Bay. It will provide incentives to spur private investment in leasing operations, and encourage commercial fishery experts to transition into aquaculture.

“Restoring our oyster population is central to healing the Chesapeake Bay and creating a sustainable fishing industry,” said Natural Resources Secretary John Griffin. “Under Governor O’Malley’s leadership this is a major step for the health of the Bay and those who make a living on it.”

These changes will give commercial waterman, farmers and others the opportunity to farm shellfish, helping to revitalize Maryland’s oyster industry and increase oyster and clam populations in the Chesapeake and Coastal Bays. This law will help bring Maryland in line with states such as Virginia where the hard clam aquaculture industry is a $50 million business supporting several hundred jobs in rural areas.

“Today’s bill signing signals the great potential for expanding aquafarming in a way that is smart, green and growing for our environment, our economy, and employment,” said Agriculture Secretary Earl F. Hance. “Aquaculture businesses and watermen look forward to the creation of the enterprise zones and opening of bottom leases so that they can get to work farming shellfish in the Chesapeake and Coastal Bays and bringing Maryland’s outstanding seafood products to market.”

source: MD DNR press release

Maryland’s citizen oyster growing program is expanding for 2009, and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is looking for non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to assist in coordinating the effort in local tributaries. Launched by Governor Martin O’Malley in September 2008, Marylanders Grow Oysters fosters stewardship of the Chesapeake Bay among citizens, and creates living oyster reef populations in protected sanctuaries to help restore the iconic species.

“I like to call this program ‘Head Start’ for oysters,” said Governor O’Malley. “It is a unique and fun way to enlist Maryland families in helping rebuild our oyster population, and create a smarter, greener more sustainable future for our State, our children, and our beloved Chesapeake Bay.”

Through the cooperative efforts of DNR and numerous partners, last fall 177 waterfront property owners began growing oysters in 854 oyster cages along the Tred Avon River in the first phase of the program. In 2009, the program will expand to other tributaries.

This year DNR is seeking NGOs to act as local project coordinators who will identify waterfront property owners willing to become oyster growers and deliver oyster cages and oysters to growers in the tributary. The NGOs can be community associations, non-profit organizations, RiverKeepers or similar groups.

Through the program, citizen volunteers tend to young oysters growing in wire mesh cages suspended from private piers for their first year of life. The oyster spat and cages are provided by DNR and other program partners at no charge to the volunteers. The oysters require minimal care – mostly rinsing the cages every two weeks.

Citizen oyster growers enjoy the personal rewards of stewardship and learn about oysters while contributing to the enhancement of an oyster reef in their local tributary. The year-old oysters are then collected and planted in a local oyster sanctuary, and a new group of young oysters are distributed to participating growers to start the process again.

Interested NGOs should visit http://www.oysters.maryland.gov/pdfs/Oyster_App_Doc.pdf to obtain an application. Applications will be accepted until May 22. Contact Chris Judy at 410-260-8259 or cjudy@dnr.state.md.us for any additional information.

The Aquaculture Technical Advisory Committee will meet from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the following dates

March 18, 2008

Northampton County Former Circuit Court Room
16404 Courthouse Road
Eastville, VA 23347

April 24, 2008

Shore Bank Headquarters
25020 Shore Parkway, Onley, VA 23418