In 2020, through Natural Resources Articles 4-204 and 4-215, Annotated Code of Maryland, the Department of Natural Resources, in coordination with the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, convened a restructured Oyster Advisory Commission. The Commission is tasked with:
- Provide the Department with advice on matters related to oysters in the Chesapeake Bay;
- Review the best possible science and recommend changes to the framework and strategies for rebuilding and managing the oyster population in the Chesapeake Bay under the Chesapeake Bay Oyster Management Plan;
- Review the latest findings relevant to the Environmental Impact Statement evaluating oyster restoration alternatives for the Chesapeake Bay;
- Review any other scientific, economic, or cultural information relevant to oysters in the Chesapeake Bay;
- Develop a package of consensus recommendations in coordination with the department for enhancing and implementing the fishery management plan for oysters.
The fishery management plan shall:
- End the overfishing of oysters in all areas and regions of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries where overfishing has occurred according to biological reference points established by the most recent oyster stock assessment while maintaining a harvest in the fishery;
- Achieve fishing mortality rates at target levels;
- Increase oyster abundance;
- Increase oyster habitat; and
- Facilitate the long-term sustainable harvest of oysters, including the public fishery.
The consensus recommendation package for enhancing and implementing the fishery management plan for oysters will be informed by a collaboratively developed, science-based modeling tool to quantify the long-term impacts of identified management actions and possible combinations of management actions on:
- Oyster abundance;
- Oyster habitat;
- Oyster harvest;
- Oyster harvest revenue; and
- Nitrogen removal.
The consensus recommendation package will be developed through a facilitated process based on 75% majority agreement level whereas 60% of the voting commissioners are in the oyster industry.
In the past, the Oyster Advisory Commission was also tasked with #1 through #4 listed above as well as publishing a report in 2007 that developed:
- Strategies to minimize the impact of disease, including the State repletion program and bar cleaning;
- The framework and effectiveness of the oyster sanctuary, harvest reserve, and repletion programs, and the overall management of natural oyster bars, after performing a cost–benefit analysis that considers biological, ecological, economic, and cultural issues;
- Strategies to maximize the ecological benefits of natural oyster bars; and
- Strategies to improve enforcement of closed oyster areas.
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1st Progress Report: 8/1/2020
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2nd Progress Report: 12/1/2020
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Final Report: 12/1/2021
Oyster Advisory Commission Members
Rob Witt
Anne Arundel County Oyster Committee
Blair Baltus
Baltimore County Oyster Committee
Simon Dean
Calvert County Oyster Committee
Francis Killinski
Charles County Oyster Committee
Cody Paul
Dorchester County Oyster Committee
Harry White
Kent County Oyster Committee
Troy Wilkins
Queen Anne’s County Oyster Committee
Kevin Horner
Somerset County Oyster Committee
Brian Hite
St. Mary’s County Oyster Committee
Jeff Harrison
Talbot County Oyster Committee
Keith Bradley
Wicomico County Oyster Committee
Robert T. Brown
Maryland Watermen’s Association
Jim Mullin
Maryland Oysterman’s Association
Reginal Harrell
Aquaculture Coordinating Council
Dave Sikorski
Coastal Conservation Association
Allison Colden
Chesapeake Bay Foundation
Michelle Dietz
The Nature Conservancy
Ben Ford
ShoreRivers Riverkeeper Association
Elle Bassett
Arundel Rivers Federation
Anna Killius
Chesapeake Bay Commission
Maggie Ostdahl
National Aquarium
Dr. Mike Sieracki
University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science
Scott Knoche
Morgan State University- Patuxent Environmental and Aquatic Research Laboratory
Jason Ruth
Harris Seafood
Tyrone Meredith
Blacks of the Chesapeake Foundation
Johnny Shockley
Blue Oyster Environmental
Angie Sowers
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District
Kevin Schabow
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Chris Judy Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Del. Todd Morgan
State Delegate(republican)
Del. Regina Boyce
State Delegate(democrat)
Vacant
State Senator(democrat)
Sen. Steve Hershey
State Senator(republican)
