Shellfish Aquaculture Lease Applications

​​​Below are the pending commercial shellfish lease applications received by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources since January 1, 2018, and determined to be complete. Incomplete applications are not listed. Designation of an application as complete does not mean that the proposed lease location meets all of the criteria for lease approval, and proposed lease locations are subject to change throughout the review process. The status of each application will be updated as it progresses through the review process. Please refer to the legend below the list for an explanation of what each status description means.​


LAST UPDATE: 09/15/2023
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
584Beauchamp , Lee RChincoteague BayWorcester2.4Application Complete3/28/2023WCBags
583Miles River Oysters LPMiles RiverTalbot25.1Withdrawn2/6/2023WCCages
582Duffy , Marc R.Miles RiverTalbot2.2Application Complete1/26/2023SLL
581Duffy , Marc R.Miles RiverTalbot2.8Application Complete1/26/2023SLL
580Baunhofer , Jess RParker BayWorcester2.0Application Complete12/19/2022WCCages & Floats
577Miles River Oysters LPMiles RiverTalbot25.1Application Complete11/21/2022WCCages
576Parran, LisaHellen CreekCalvert7.0Application Complete10/4/2022SLL
573Hayden, Jr., Joseph C.Tar BayDorchester46.1Application Complete6/24/2022SLL
572Zeinog , RyanLittle Choptank RiverDorchester32.0Application Complete6/21/2022SLL
571Morris III, John B.Smith CreekSt. Mary's2.4Application Complete6/20/2022SLL
570Morris III, John B.Smith CreekSt. Mary's5.4Application Complete6/20/2022SLL
569Abbott Jr, Wylie MFishing BayDorchester111.0Application Complete5/20/2022WCCages
568Phillips, Mark C.Fishing BayDorchester10.0Application Complete5/11/2022SLL
567Horseman, James A.Farm CreekDorchester8.5Application Complete5/5/2022SLL
566Abbott, Jason A.Monie BaySomerset7.2Application Complete5/3/2022SLL
565Horseman, Mary LMadison BayDorchester70.4Application Complete4/8/2022SLL
564Green Pearl, LLCHarris CreekTalbot4.9Application Complete2/22/2022SLL
563Maryland Seafood Cooperative, Inc.Choptank RiverDorchester27.1Application Complete11/29/2021SLL
562Maryland Seafood Cooperative, Inc.Little Choptank RiverDorchester40.0Application Complete11/29/2021SLL
561Horseman, JohnMadison BayDorchester50.0Application Complete11/1/2021SLL
560Price, JoshuaChester RiverQueen Anne's5.7Application Complete10/28/2021WCCages
559Abey, AngelaChoptank RiverDorchester12.1Phase I Review10/21/2021SLLY
558St. Michaels Oyster Company, LLCHarris CreekTalbot3.8Application Complete10/21/2021WCFloats
557Solar Oysters, LLCChesapeake BayCalvert7.5Phase I Review8/16/2021WCFloatsY
556Solar Oysters, LLCChesapeake BayCalvert7.3Phase I Review8/16/2021WCFloatsY
555Abey, AnnChoptank RiverDorchester2.9Phase II Review8/10/2021SLLY
554Wisner, EricTangier SoundDorchester55.0Application Complete7/15/2021SLL
552St. Jeromes Crossroads, LLCChesapeake BaySt. Mary's13.3Application Complete4/9/2021WCCages and Floats
548Morris Jr, John B.Smith CreekSt. Mary's5.5Application Complete8/9/2020SLL
547Morris Jr, John B.Smith CreekSt. Mary's7.3Application Complete8/9/2020SLL
546Beauchamp, Lee RChincoteague BayWorcester38.3Phase I Review7/28/2020WCFloatsY
545Kilinski , Francis WWicomico RiverCharles10.0Phase I Review7/2/2020SLLY
544Fowler, MathewWicomico RiverCharles22.3Phase I Review7/2/2020SLLY
543Nock, Gordon JWicomico RiverSomerset30.4Phase II Review6/12/2020SLLY
542Waller Jr, Harvey HanksFishing BayDorchester14.7Phase II Review5/22/2020SLLY
541Alksne, CynthiaSt. George CreekSt. Mary's0.1Public Notice5/4/2020SLLPN
540Thomas, Jr., RaymondEastern BayQueen Anne's21.0Phase I Review4/16/2020SLLY
539Brown, Jr., John F.Dukehart ChannelSt. Mary's103.2Hydrographic Survey4/13/2020SLLY
538Lumpkins , Robert LanceCalvert BaySt. Mary's29.7Application Complete4/12/2020SLL
537Lumpkins , Robert LanceCarthagena CreekSt. Mary's14.6Application Complete4/13/2020SLL
536Bowen, Jr., William R.Cummings CreekTalbot2.5Phase II Review3/3/2020SLLY
535Coleman, CharlesJohnson BayWorcester5.1Phase II Review2/28/2020WCFloats and BagsY
534Wierzbicki, Michael C.Chesapeake BayAnne Arundel0.8Lease Issued2/12/2020SLLPN
533Dean, Rachel A.Patuxent RiverCalvert2.7PIM Request/Protest12/4/2019WCCagesPN
532Baker, Michael S.Choptank RiverDorchester12.4Hydrographic Survey11/13/2019SLLY
531Barnette, John T.Wicomico RiverSomerset4.8Lease Issued11/8/2019SLLPN
530PJH Oyster Leases, LLCMonie BaySomerset9.5PIM Request/Protest10/18/2019SLLPN
527Henderson, Jr., William F.Tred Avon RiverTalbot8.4Lease Issued9/19/2019SLLPN
526Powley, Larry R.Tar BayDorchester39.8PIM Request/Protest9/11/2019SLLPN
525Morgan, Todd B.Patuxent RiverSt. Mary's2.8Lease Issued9/5/2019SLLPN
524Lewis, Jr., Bradford R.Crab Alley BayQueen Anne's1.6Phase II Review9/5/2019SLLY
523Abner, Robert F.Chesapeake BayCalvert27.3Lease Issued9/30/2019SLLPN
522Insley, Sr., Harry J.Nanticoke RiverDorchester7.7Phase I Review8/22/2019SLLY
521Gosnell, Wyatt D.Choptank RiverDorchester51.2Terminated8/12/2019SLLY
520Wallace, ElizabethLeadenham CreekTalbot15.3Application Complete7/29/2019WCCages
519Gombos, JeffreyChoptank RiverTalbot13.2Withdrawn7/25/2019SLLPN
518Wilford, JasonChoptank RiverDorchester5.0Lease Issued6/4/2019WCFloatsPN
517Poulos , Matthew Chesapeake BayCalvert12.3PIM Request/Protest5/31/2019WCCagesPN
516Morris III, John B.Smith Creek St. Mary's12.6Public Notice5/29/2019SLLPN
515Rudner , Lawrence Harris CreekTalbot1.8Lease Issued5/28/2019WCCages & FloatsPN
514Green Pearl, LLCGoldsborough CreekTalbot9.4Pending Issuance5/16/2019SLLPN
513PJH Oyster Leases, LLCNanticoke RiverWicomico30.1Lease Issued5/3/2019SLLPN
511Eubanks , William ESouth RiverAnne Arundel0.5Lease Issued4/22/2019SLLPN
510Rudner , Lawrence Harris CreekTalbot1.6Lease Issued4/16/2019WCCages & FloatsPN
509Maryland Seafood Cooperative, Inc.Patuxent RiverSt. Mary's34.3Lease Issued4/11/2019SLLPN
508Maryland Seafood Cooperative, Inc.Patuxent RiverSt. Mary's22.9Lease Issued4/11/2019SLLPN
507Boyd , Jennifer HWicomico RiverSt. Mary's12.5Lease Issued4/3/2019SLLPN
506Dize, Roger LManokin RiverSomerset6.2Pending Issuance4/1/2019SLLPN
505Dize, Roger LManokin RiverSomerset10.1Lease Issued4/1/2019SLLPN
504Dize, Roger LManokin RiverSomerset4.8Lease Issued4/1/2019SLLPN
503Cretsinger , Aaron JSt. George CreekSt. Mary's18.9Pending Issuance3/22/2019SLLPN
501Kellam III, Paul Calvert BaySt. Mary's29.8PIM Request/Protest3/22/2019SLLPN
500Gowe , Bobby LHarris CreekTalbot9.0Terminated3/18/2019SLLPN
499Maryland Seafood Cooperative, Inc.Chesapeake BaySt. Mary's41.6On Hold3/13/2019SLLY
498Hargrove, John NHarris CreekTalbot4.9Lease Issued3/12/2019SLLPN
497Williams, Brian CTred Avon RiverTalbot14.6PIM Request/Protest3/4/2019SLLPN
496Williams, Brian CTred Avon RiverTalbot10.7PIM Request/Protest2/25/2019SLLPN
495Maryland Seafood Cooperative, Inc.Manokin RiverSomerset28.3Pending Issuance2/13/2019SLLPN
494Williams, Brian CTrippe CreekTalbot6.1Lease Issued2/5/2019SLLPN
491Kraft Jr., Ralph Wicomico RiverSomerset60.3Lease Issued1/10/2019SLLPN
490Southern Connection Seafood, Inc.Little Annemessex RiverSomerset3.6Hydrographic Survey12/7/2018WCCagesY
489Pfeiffer, WilliamPatuxent RiverCalvert12.7Lease Issued11/28/2018SLLPN
488Pfeiffer, WilliamPatuxent RiverCharles10.5Lease Issued11/28/2018SLLPN
487Buckler, Joshua Patuxent RiverSt. Mary's26.9Lease Issued11/20/2018SLLPN
486Maryland Seafood Cooperative, Inc.Little Choptank RiverDorchester8.8Lease Issued10/18/2018SLLPN
485Maryland Seafood Cooperative, Inc.Manokin RiverSomerset19.2Lease Issued10/11/2018SLLPN
484Budden, Scott Chester RiverQueen Anne's5.3Lease Issued9/26/2018WCCages & FloatsPN
483Gabeler, William ThomasPurnell BayWorcester1.9Lease Issued9/21/2018WCCagesPN
481McBee Jr., Harold AShipping CreekQueen Anne's0.2Lease Issued8/2/2018WCFloating UpwellersPN
480Abbott Jr., Wylie MFishing BayDorchester39.6Lease Issued7/30/2018WCCagesPN
479Maryland Seafood Coop., Inc.Lecompte BayDorchester22.0PIM Request/Protest7/17/2018SLLPN
477Chase Jr., Henry VSt. Mary's RiverSt. Mary's1.0Lease Issued6/25/2018SLLPN
476Zecher, Linda KCaulk CreekTalbot1.7Lease Issued6/22/2018SLLPN
475Youngk Sr., Richard DChesapeake BayAnne Arundel1.7Lease Issued6/5/2018WCCages & FloatsPN
473Patuxent River Seafood, LLCPatuxent RiverCalvert1.7Lease Issued5/18/2018WCCagesPN
472Farrington, Jon DavidPatuxent RiverCalvert5.0Lease Issued5/10/2018WCCagesPN
471Robinson, Timothy MFishing BayDorchester19.1Lease Issued5/4/2018SLLPN
468Williams, Brian CTred Avon RiverTalbot1.0Pending Issuance4/11/2018SLLPN
467Williams, Brian CTred Avon RiverTalbot1.4Pending Issuance4/11/2018SLLPN
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​The "Lease" column above refers to Lease Type.
  • SLL = submerged land lease
  • WC = water column lease

Application Status Legend

  • Application Complete (App. Complete) - The department has received a Joint Application for State Commercial Shellfish Aquaculture Lease and Corps of Engineers Federal Permit and determined that it included the required components and application fee necessary to proceed with review.
  • Phase I Review - The department has initiated its internal review to evaluate the proposed lease site for compliance with statutory and regulatory criteria for leasing.
  • Phase II Review - The proposed lease site is evaluated using Geographic Information System (GIS) software for proximity to and compatibility with ecological and cultural resource areas of concern, and comments on the application are compiled from other state and federal regulatory agencies.
  • Hydrographic Survey - The proposed lease site is surveyed by the department's hydrographic engineer to obtain the legal coordinates and acreage that will be mapped and advertised. Temporary corner markers are placed on the proposed site at this time.
  • Public Notice - The department advertises a notice of the application in a newspaper circulated within the county in which the proposed site is located. The notice appears in the paper once a week for two consecutive weeks, followed by a 30-day public comment period. The notice is also available to view on the department's Public Notice web page.
  • PIM Request/Protest - The department received a request for a Public Information Meeting and/or a Petition of Protest during the public comment period. An application will remain in this status until a meeting request has been fulfilled, if necessary, and while the department works with all parties toward resolution of any outstanding protests. This may include adjudication of the protest through the Maryland Office of Administrative Hearings.
  • Pending Issuance - The department has concluded its application review and determined, based on the results of the review and/or an administrative hearing, that a shellfish lease may be issued.
  • Lease Issued – A shellfish lease was issued by the department. 

If you would like to receive alerts when the department updates this aquaculture application tracking tool, please sign up to receive emails from the department. Interested parties may receive emails by submitting their email address and selecting the Subscription Topic titled "Shellfish Aquaculture Lease Applications".

For more information about this list or the Aquaculture and Industry Enhancement Division, please contact Sam Pellegrini, phone 410-260-8648, email samantha.pellegrini@maryland.gov​