Preliminary results of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ annual Fall Oyster Survey indicate that Chesapeake Bay oyster populations are healthy. After a remarkable year for oyster reproduction in 2023, the survey’s 2024 spatfall intensity index, a measure of reproductive … Continued
In February 2025, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recognized Thomas Dembeck Jr. of Hydes as the new state record holder for yellow perch (Perca flavescens) in the Chesapeake division. Dembeck caught the 2.3-pound, 16-inch fish on February 7 … Continued
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is launching two pilot programs in coordination with its Invasive Catfish Advisory Committee aimed at curbing the spread of blue catfish in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. Applications are now open for … Continued
A new study by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) confirms the negative impact northern snakeheads have on other fish and the ecosystem. A comparison of fish communities in the Blackwater River drainage near Cambridge before and after the … Continued
Amory Seafood in Hampton recently received a state grant through Virginia’s Blue Catfish Processing, Flash Freezing, and Infrastructure Grant Program. The $247,000 reimbursable grant will allow the company to increase its processing capacity and purchase more blue catfish from local … Continued
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has selected the next three sites for large-scale oyster restoration in Maryland waters of the Chesapeake Bay, marking the beginning of the state’s next phase of major oyster restoration. DNR will conduct oyster … Continued
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) estimates that over 430,000 bushels of oysters were harvested commercially in Maryland from October 1, 2023, through March 31, 2024. This was the fifth season in the past 30 years when the harvest … Continued
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has announced that it has recommended awarding $10 million to fund new reef construction for a Maryland Department of Natural Resources oyster sanctuary in the Chesapeake Bay. The four-year grant will provide infrastructure funding … Continued
In June, Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reported that the state’s shellfish aquaculture operations harvested a record 94,286 bushels of oysters in 2023. “Though the shellfish aquaculture harvest is small in comparison to the public fishery, it is growing … Continued
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) recently announced the results of the 2024 Blue Crab Winter Dredge Survey. The annual cooperative survey estimates the number of blue crabs in the Chesapeake … Continued