Eat up! Maryland's Oyster Population Has Grown Significantly, Study Shows

Eat up! Maryland's oyster population has grown significantly, study shows

Maryland’s oyster population is making a comeback, according to the results of a new study.

Oyster Population Booms in Maryland Waters - The Southern Maryland Chronicle

ANNAPOLIS, Md.,— Maryland’s oyster population has grown significantly over the past two decades, reaching an estimated 12 billion oysters in the Chesapeake Bay in 2024, according to a benchmark stock assessment released by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES). The assessment, covering 2005 to 2024, shows a fivefold increase in adult oysters since 2005, driven b…

Oyster population soars in Maryland

BALTIMORE, MD—Maryland’s oyster population has more than tripled since 2005, reaching over 12 billion oysters in 2024, according to a new report. The positive assessment is attributed to a combination of factors, including large-scale restoration efforts, favorable environmental conditions, and harvest restrictions. The latest benchmark stock assessment, released this week by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and the University of Mar…