The Oyster Recovery Partnership, together with its partners, offers a variety of programs and services to assist shellfish leaseholders in producing, managing and promoting their oyster farms.

MARYLAND & VIRGINIA OYSTER FARMS

Remote Setting Aquaculture (RSA)

ORP, in cooperation with UMD Horn Point Laboratory Oyster Hatchery, offer individuals the opportunity to produce their own oysters through the remote setting aquaculture program. Remote setting enables Maryland leaseholders to cost-effectively produce their own oyster spat on shell without the complexity of a big hatchery. Growers are provided free training, discounted larvae, shell and access to equipment. Since the programs began in 2010, more than 80 farmers have participated in our training program, resulting in the production and planting of one billion oysters. Some are using this program in conjunction with grants/loans that they receive through MARBIDCO, which assist with startup costs and ongoing expenses associated with spat on shell production.

Interested leaseholders can sign up to use these remote setting systems at no charge. We provide use of tanks with all supporting equipment at seven locations across Maryland, from Crisfield on the Lower Easter Shore to Piney Point on the Western Shore.  Hands-on, technical support is provided to all participants, including introductory setting training to post-setting evaluations to determine how many spat on shell were produced.  UMCES Horn Point Oyster Lab Hatchery provides the oyster larvae.  To participate, individuals must have a lease, be able to acquire or funds to purchase their own shell and provide the labor to produce and plant their spat. Click here for an Aquaculture Case Study from three growers who participated in the program.

Shell bags can be purchased from ORP to support RST participants and aquaculture lease owners.  The cost is $5.00 per bag. Please click on the link below for more information regarding purchasing larvae, tank rentals, available hatcheries, and other resources.

RST MEMBER GUIDELINES & PRICING

 

For more about the Remote Setting Program, contact us at 410-990-4970.

 

Lease Mapping

Any participant in the Remote Setting and Training Program can get their leases mapped for free.  A seafloor survey report can help growers understand the condition of their lease.  Three different types of data products are collected during the survey report. Maps indicating the measured depth of the area, relative hardness and imagery of the seafloor and any objects present are collected. Interested in learning the bottom condition of your lease? Contact us at 410-990-4970.

 

Purchase Oyster Larvae and Seed

ORP is working with the UMCES Horn Point Oyster Lab Hatchery to offer high quality oyster larvae, seed and spat on shell. To better serve Maryland’s watermen and shellfish growers, this program offers a variety of C. virginica larvae, seed and spat on shell in various sizes, including disease resistant (DR) stocks (with 60 days advance order) and limited quantities of triploids.

HORN POINT REQUEST FORMSPiney Point Ordering Information:

PINEY POINT REQUEST FORMS (DNR)For additional oyster larvae and seed sources, please refer to the East Coast Shellfish Growers Association for a comprehensive list of hatcheries and nurseries along the East Coast.

Acquire a Lease

Click HERE to learn more about how to obtain a lease.

Learn more about Army Corps aquaculture regulatory support for leaseholders HERE.