Shellfish aquaculture — growing oysters, mussels, and clams for consumption — provides environmental and economic benefits to the Chesapeake Bay and is a fast-growing industry in Maryland. From 2013 to 2018, Maryland's shellfish aquaculture industry increased 24%, and it's still growing!
Aquaculture provides employment opportunities for Maryland’s coastal communities and supports a wide variety of economic sectors from wholesale trade to food service. It takes an average of two to three years for farmed oysters to reach market size. While they grow, they provide beneficial ecosystem services like water filtration, nutrient reduction, and habitat creation, plus have a low carbon footprint compared to other protein sources.
ORP and our partners offer assistance to shellfish leaseholders in producing, managing and promoting their oyster farms through a variety of programs.
ORP, in collaboration with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, DreamCo Design, and industry, is developing the Maryland Farm Aquaculture Reporting and Management (FARM) app. Designed with input from aquaculture leaseholders, the FARM app streamlines operations, simplifies reporting and equips farmers with essential tools for effective farm management. Pilot meetings are being held to ensure the app addresses the operational and reporting needs of shellfish leaseholders. The first version is under development and is expected to launch by summer 2025.
Key features of the FARM app:
- Inventory management: Easily track plantings, harvests, and sales data.
- Streamlined reporting: Submit monthly harvest reports electronically and organize planting and relay data for annual lease usage reports.
- Interactive tools: Access real-time maps with water quality data and harvest closures.
- Enhanced communication: Receive updates, notifications, and alerts from Maryland state agencies.
- Device flexibility: Available on smartphones (iOS and Android), tablets, and computers.
For more information about the app, please contact Kinsey Tedford at [email protected].
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