ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Maryland’s oyster harvest reached a significant milestone, surpassing 400,000 bushels for the fifth time in the last 30 years during the 2023-24 season. According to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, over 430,000 bushels were harvested from October 1, 2023, through March 31, 2024.
Christopher Judy, Director of the Shellfish Division at the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, highlighted the growth in the oyster population, stating, “Maryland’s oyster population has notably improved in recent years. This season’s harvest far exceeded the average yield over the last several decades.”
The estimated value of the harvested oysters at the dockside reached $15 million, with an average price per bushel of $35. Despite these impressive figures, the market demand remained limited, influencing the frequency of harvesting activities. Unlike the previous two seasons where daily operations were common due to higher demand, this season saw watermen keeping their boats docked several days a week.
Factors contributing to the varying harvest sizes include changes in oyster abundance, primarily driven by the spat set—the number of newly-attached juvenile oysters. A lower spat set in 2021 and 2022 resulted in fewer oysters available for harvest compared to the strong spat set in 2020, which yielded high harvests of 500,000 and 700,000 bushels in subsequent years.
However, the 2023 Fall Oyster Survey reported a high spat set spread over a larger geographic area than usual in Maryland. Judy expressed optimism about the future, saying, “With the right environmental conditions, the notably widespread spat set from last summer could bode well for future harvests.”
Maryland’s efforts in oyster management across various sectors also saw progress. The 2023-24 season marked a record yield from shellfish aquaculture operations, and many oyster sanctuaries showed promising signs of recovery, indicating an overall positive trend in the state’s oyster industry.
