The Secretary of Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) pursuant to Natural Resources Article, Section 4-1103 and section 4-1037 of Maryland´s Annotated Code announced that the following area in the Lower Chesapeake Bay, Somerset County, Maryland will be permanently closed to shellfish harvesting for the purpose of establishing oyster sanctuaries effective Friday, September 14, 2001. The areas are in the vicinity of the Southwest Middleground oyster bar and the Kitts Creek oyster bar. These closures have been coordinated with the local County Oyster Committees.

The sanctuary for the Southwest Middleground oyster bar, which approximately 17 acres in size, is all the area defined by: a point at or near Latitude 38° 01´ 20.5” N, Longitude 76° 10´ 07.3” W then running approximately 352° (true) to a point at or near Latitude 38° 01´ 28.8” N, Longitude 76° 10´ 08.8” W then running approximately 85° (true) to a point at or near Latitude 38° 01´ 29.6” N, Longitude 76° 09´ 57.1” W then running approximately 172° (true) to a point at or near Latitude 38° 01´ 22.3” N, Longitude 76° 09´ 55.8” W then running approximately 259° (true) to the point of beginning.

The oyster sanctuary for Kitts Creek consists of all the waters of Marumsco Creek that lie within Somerset County upstream of a line beginning at or near the southern tip of Tulls Point, defined by Latitude 37° 57´46.5” N, Longitude 75° 44´ 14.4” W, then running easterly to Department of Natural Resources regulatory buoy “A” defined by Latitude 37° 57´ 51.9” N, Longitude 75° 43´ 16.6” W, then to Department of Natural Resources regulatory buoy “B” defined by Latitude 37° 57´ 55.4” N, Longitude 75° 42´ 26.4” W, then to Triangulation Station JOPA defined by Latitude 37° 58´ 00.2” N, Longitude 75° 41´ 25.2” W.

The department´s goal is to restore oyster populations 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.