The Secretary of Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) pursuant to
Resources Article, Section 4-1103 of Maryland´s Annotated Code announced that the following area in the Chester River, Queen Anne´s County, Maryland will be closed to shellfish harvesting for the purpose of establishing an oyster sanctuary and an oyster reserve effective Friday, September 14, 2001. The sanctuary area is in the vicinity of the Strong Bay oyster bar and is approximately 15 acres in size. The reserve consists of all the area of natural oyster bar 7-3 (Blunts). These closures have been coordinated with the local County Oyster Committees.

The Strong Bay oyster sanctuary is all the area defined by: a point at or near Latitude 39° 01´ 14.3” N, Longitude 76° 17´ 0.5” W then running approximately 299° (true) to appoint at or near Latitude 39° 01´ 18.8” N, Longitude 76° 17´ 11.0” W then running approximately 8° (true) to a point at or near Latitude 39° 01´ 26.5” N, Longitude 76° 17´ 09.7” W then running approximately 119° (true) to a point at or near Latitude 39° 01´ 22.4”N, Longitude 76° 17´ 0.1” W then running approximately 182° (true) to the point of beginning. This area will be closed permanently.

The natural oyster bar 7-3 (Blunts) reserve is all the area defined by: a point at or near 7-3-1, defined by Latitude 38º 58' 38.6" N and Longitude 76º12' 22.9" W, then running approximately 331º (true) to a point at or near corner 7-3-2 defined by Latitude 38º 58' 57.6" N and Longitude 76º 12' 36.1" W, then running approximately 45º (true) to a point at or near corner 7-3-3 defined by Latitude 38º 59' 33.4" N and Longitude 76º 11' 49.8" W, then running approximately 97º (true) to a point at or near corner 7-3-4, defined by Latitude 38º 59' 30.9" N and Longitude 76º 11' 23.1" W, then running approximately 222º (true) to the point of beginning. This area will be closed until further notice and reopened in consultation with the county oyster committees.

The department´s goal is to restore oyster population in these areas and to designate these grounds closed to harvest in order to contribute to the ecology of the river. Seed oysters will be planted on the sites to rebuild populations, if needed.