The Hooper Strait Sanctuary is located in the lower eastern portion of Maryland's Chesapeake Bay, a medium salinity region. The sanctuary was created in 2009 and encompasses 7,307 acres of which 5,317 (73%) is historic oyster bottom (as charted in the Yates Oyster Survey from 1906 to 1912 plus its amendments). There are 15 historic oyster bars within the sanctuary.
In 2024, DNR announced the Hooper Strait Sanctuary as one of the three sanctuaries to receive the next large-scale restoration. This restoration will consist of substrate restoration (adding reef-building substrate to the reef footprint) and rely on natural recruitment to populate the site.
In 2024, DNR was awarded a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration grant to construct 50 to 75 acres of reef base in Hooper Strait Sanctuary. This will start the large-scale restoration effort in the sanctuary.
As a restoration plan is developed, additional information will be posted.
