The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) has announced a shellfish harvesting closure on the Back River due to potential contamination from a sewage spill. Shellfish taken from areas affected by the emergency closure are currently unacceptable for consumption, according to … Continued
Preliminary data shows that so far, oyster restoration efforts in Maryland’s Harris Creek are doing well. Late last fall, scientists gathered data about oyster density on restored oyster reefs in Harris Creek on reefs that were seeded with spat-on-shell in … Continued
Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe recently announced the award of a $35,000 planning grant from the Governor’s Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development (AFID) Fund to the Virginia Oyster Trail project by the Northern Neck Planning District Commission (PDC) and partner communities … Continued
Maryland’s 2015-2016 oyster season kicks off October 1st. The six-month season runs from Oct. 1 through March 31. For the first month of the season, only hand tonging, patent tonging and diving are permitted. Oyster harvesting is expected to increase … Continued
The Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC) voted recently to increase protection for oyster restoration sites in Norfolk’s Lafayette River and parts of other Virginia tributaries. In 2014, the City of Norfolk sent a proposal to VMRC, requesting the agency to … Continued