In the fall and winter, my responsibilities as the Oyster Restoration Field Specialist for the Oyster Recovery Partnership shift from time aboard the Robert Lee planting vessel, to the research vessels Callinectes and Captain’s Lady, led by the University of Maryland’s Paynter Lab and local…

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Oyster Recovery Partnership Announces Top 10 Contributors The Oyster Recovery Partnership’s (ORP) shell recycling program collected a record-breaking 1,169 tons (33,400 bushels) of oyster shell from 340 member establishments throughout the Chesapeake Bay area in 2017, illustrating the increasing efforts and commitment of local businesses…

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Photo credit: Jess Lockoski The Oyster Recovery Partnership’s shell recycling program has grown by 20 restaurants and caterers, and seven public shell drop-off sites over the past six months, boosting collection totals and the capacity for Chesapeake Bay oyster restoration projects. “It’s remarkable that in…

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Dear friends of the Chesapeake Bay, As the Oyster Restoration Field Specialist for the Oyster Recovery Partnership, I spend most of my days out on the water, seeing first-hand how our operations enhance the Chesapeake Bay on both a local and Bay-wide scale. In the…

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WE ARE BUILDING A COMMUNITY OF PASSIONATE, ACTION-ORIENTED PEOPLE TO HARNESS THE POWER OF OYSTERS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE HEALTH OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY. YOU CAN BE ONE OF THEM. Dear friends of the Chesapeake Bay, As I write this, the hard work…

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  A QUESTION WE OFTEN HEAR IS, IF THE OYSTER RECOVERY PARTNERSHIP IS WORKING TO RESTORE THE OYSTER POPULATION, THEN WHY DO THEY ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO EAT THEM?  The answer is simple. Shell recycling and oyster farming have been identified as powerful strategies for oyster…

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“I am a lifelong resident of Chesapeake City, MD, a small, historic town situated on the western end of the C&D Canal. I’ve been fishing, crabbing and hunting on the waters of the upper bay for as long as I can remember. My grandfathers both…

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The Oyster Recovery Partnership offers public drop sites in Maryland, DC and Virginia With the arrival of Chesapeake Bay oyster season and fall oyster roasts abound, the Oyster Recovery Partnership (ORP) reminds residents to recycle their shell at one of the more than 70 collection…

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There’s a unique entrepreneurial spirit that drives Eastern Shore watermen like Hoopers Island Oyster Co. founders Ricky Fitzhugh and Johnny Shockley. Ricky grew up in his family’s seafood business on the Honga River, became a commercial fisherman and launched his own fish and ice companies….

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Get ready for an evening of local oysters of all shapes, sizes and flavors, fresh seafood dishes from iconic restaurants, all-you-can-enjoy craft beer and wine, and live entertainment, all to benefit our Bay’s beloved bivalve! Hosted by the Oyster Recovery Partnership (ORP) and presented by…

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