The Secretary of Maryland Department of Natural Resources, pursuant to Natural Resources Article 4-1009.1 of Maryland’s Annotated Code, announces that the following area of the Choptank River, Talbot County will be closed to oyster harvest as of Wednesday November 23, 2005 for the purpose of creating the Black Buoy Oyster Harvest Reserve in the vicinity of the Black Buoy oyster bar.

The oyster harvest reserve area consists of all that portion of Natural Oyster Bars 16-3 and 16-4 enclosed by a line beginning at: A point at Latitude 38º34.353’ N, Longitude 76º02.530’ W; then running approximately 23º (true) to a point at Latitude 38º34.782’ N, Longitude 76º02.293’ W; then running approximately 114º (true) to a point at Latitude 38º34.567’ N, Longitude 76º01.689’ W; then running approximately 225º (true) to a point at Latitude 38º34.410’ N, Longitude 76º01.887’ W; then running approximately 256º (true) to a point at Latitude 38º34.355’ N, Longitude 76º 12.175’ W; then running approximately 270º (true) to the point of beginning.

The Department’s goal is to contribute to the ecology and oyster industry of the bay. This area will be planted with oyster seed and occasionally opened for harvest when the criteria set by the State has been met.