Photo courtesy of UMCES
The blue crab population in the the Chesapeake Bay is up 60%, but the oyster population remains drastically low, despite concentrated efforts to restore it.
Overall, Maryland state and federal government funds totaling $40 million have gone to protect and grow the oyster population.
The state’s plan? More regulations to protect more areas of the bay to save more oysters. And the watermen are not happy about it.
Jackie Bowen, a Calvert County waterman, opposes oyster sanctuaries. He said in a public forum earlier this year, “We try to make a living out there. We don’t want to be out of business.”
Despite concerns like Bowen’s, the Department of Natural Resources hopes to submit a proposal for new sanctuaries soon.
“We want to be sure we get it right, as right as we can,” DNR assistant director of fisheries Mike Naylor told the Washington Post. “These sanctuaries are permanent.”