Alumni Lead Oyster Planting in St. Mary’s River Sanctuary

Five graduates from St. Mary’s College of Maryland teamed up to plant 85 bushels of oysters on a reef in the St. Mary’s River earlier this summer, contributing to ongoing oyster restoration efforts through a national program aimed at bolstering coastal ecosystems. The initiative, part of the Supporting Oyster Aquaculture and Restoration (SOAR) program, involved purchasing surplus oysters from local growers and deploying them in a designated sanctuary to enhance water quality and wildlife habitat in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

Daniel Sweeny, a 2002 alumnus and agriculture program director with The Nature Conservancy, oversaw the SOAR Chesapeake Bay project. He collaborated with fellow graduate Matt Kane, class of 2001 and communications lead for the effort, as well as Emma Green Ewing, a 2018 graduate who serves as executive director of the St. Mary’s River Watershed Association. The group selected the St. Mary’s River as one of two Maryland planting sites, working in partnership with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to identify suitable locations for oyster restoration. The five-acre reef site has been a priority for the association’s restoration work since 2013, with more than 2,800 reef balls and tens of thousands of bushels of spat-on-shell already placed to rebuild oyster populations.

Ewing explained that these oyster restoration activities improve water clarity by filtering pollutants and support increased fish stocks for both recreational and commercial use. “We are very happy that the upper St. Mary’s River is an oyster sanctuary,” she said, noting the river’s distinct setup where the lower section remains open as a public fishery. The planted oysters, described by Sweeny as diploid and primed for reproduction this season, are expected to boost the reef’s spawning capacity while creating new habitats for species like blue crabs and striped bass, Maryland’s state fish commonly called rockfish.

To handle the logistics of loading, transporting and monitoring approximately 25,500 oysters, the team enlisted Shorething Shellfish, a local oyster farming operation run by alumni Brian Russell, class of 2008, and Mandy Burch, class of 2001. Their involvement ensured efficient deployment on the reef, aligning with SOAR’s dual goals of aiding growers and advancing environmental recovery.

Launched in late 2020 by The Nature Conservancy and the Pew Charitable Trusts, SOAR was initially designed to assist oyster farmers facing economic challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic by buying unsellable stock for restoration purposes. Since then, the program has expanded, deploying 5.6 million oysters across eight states, including significant contributions to the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. In Maryland, SOAR has continued annually, with 2025 plantings focusing on reefs to prevent market oversupply while enhancing bay health. Kane highlighted the project’s educational value, stating, “Getting the word out about SOAR is not only a great opportunity to help people learn about the importance of oysters to the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem, but also to highlight the important role that oyster farmers are playing in its restoration.”

The St. Mary’s River, flowing through Southern Maryland’s rural landscapes, serves as a key tributary in broader Chesapeake Bay restoration strategies. Designated as an oyster sanctuary by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, the upper river prohibits harvesting to allow populations to rebuild naturally. According to association records, the five-acre site now boasts an oyster density of 241 per square meter, a metric of success in ongoing monitoring efforts. This density supports not just oysters but a thriving food web, as reefs provide shelter and foraging grounds for finfish and crustaceans.

Oyster restoration in the Chesapeake Bay yields multiple benefits, including filtration of up to 50 gallons of water per adult oyster daily, which reduces excess nutrients and sediment to combat algal blooms. Research indicates that restored reefs enhance biodiversity, with studies showing boosts in blue crab harvests and marine habitats that contribute to regional economic growth. In Maryland’s sanctuaries, such as the St. Mary’s River, scientists have observed strong reproduction and the formation of vertical reef structures, signaling progress toward sustainable populations.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has prioritized oyster restoration, completing work in several tributaries and aiming to meet a 2025 goal of restoring reefs in 10 areas under the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement. The St. Mary’s River is among five targeted for full habitat recovery, with federal and state investments supporting community-led projects like this SOAR planting. Partners including the Oyster Recovery Partnership have planted billions of spat-on-shell across the bay, emphasizing large-scale efforts to reverse historical declines from overharvesting, disease and pollution.

St. Mary’s College of Maryland has a history of alumni engagement in environmental initiatives, with graduates like those involved here pursuing careers in conservation and watershed management. The college’s environmental studies program encourages hands-on projects, such as sustainability research and service days that connect students to local bay restoration. This SOAR collaboration exemplifies how alumni networks strengthen community ties in Southern Maryland, where waterways like the St. Mary’s River are integral to livelihoods in fishing, farming and tourism.

As oyster restoration continues, programs like SOAR demonstrate a balanced approach: supporting aquaculture economically while fostering ecological resilience. In the St. Mary’s River, these efforts promise cleaner waters and vibrant fisheries for future generations, aligning with statewide goals to sustain the Chesapeake Bay’s natural resources.