about the coalition
The Eastern Bay Oyster Coalition Workgroup was convened in 2024 by the Oyster Recovery Partnership (ORP), with support from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF). Workgroup members represented Maryland’s three major oyster stakeholder groups – wild harvest, restoration, and aquaculture – as well as NGOs, citizen, and governmental interests that affect and are affected by the oyster fishery and oyster habitat restoration activities in Eastern Bay, Maryland and its tributaries.
The goal of the Oyster Coalition Workgroup was to develop consensus recommendations for oyster policies, management, and restoration/replenishment activities that improve oyster production and the ecological and ecosystem services from oyster habitat restoration, and to meet the needs of industry, citizen, NGOs, and government stakeholders in Eastern Bay and its tributaries.
Read the report
- Read the full report: Sustainable Oyster Restoration and Management Plan for Eastern Bay, Maryland
- Read the seven-page summary report:
Meeting materials
MEMBERS
NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS
Ben Ford, ShoreRivers, Miles Wye Riverkeeper
Vicki Paulas, Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center
Ward Slacum, Oyster Recovery Partnership
Dan Sweeney, The Nature Conservancy
RECREATIONAL FISHING
Mark Galasso, Tuna the Tide Charter Service
SEAFOOD INDUSTRY
Scott Budden, Orchard Point Oyster Co., Aquaculture
Mike Eber, Queen Anne County Waterman
Moochie Gilmer, Queen Anne County Waterman, Clam Harvester
Nick Hargrove, Wittman Wharf Seafood, Talbot County Waterman
Jeff Harrison, Talbot County Waterman
Richard Jones, Queen Anne County Waterman
Matt Latham, Queen Anne County Waterman
Jason Ruth, Harris Seafood Company, Queen Anne County Waterman, Aquaculture
Troy Wilkins, Queen Anne County Waterman
LOCAL AND STATE GOVERNMENT
Kathy Brohawn, Maryland Department of the Environment (Designated Alternate: John McKay)
Brian Callam, Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) - Aquaculture & Industry Enhancement Division
Chris Judy, Maryland DNR, Shellfish Division (Designated Alternate: Jodi Baxter)
Jim Moran, Queen Anne County
OYSTER COALITION WORKGROUP LEADERSHIP TEAM
Olivia Caretti, Oyster Recovery Partnership, Coastal Restoration Program Manager
Beth Franks, Oyster Recovery Partnership, Senior Manager
Jennica Moffat, Oyster Recovery Partnership, Monitoring Coordinator
Ward Slacum, Oyster Recovery Partnership, Executive Director
Jeff Blair, Facilitated Solutions, LLC