Maryland Oyster Program Expands
WHO: Marylanders Grow Oysters Program Volunteers
Stephan Abel, Executive Director of Oyster Recovery Partnership
Chris Judy, Fisheries Service
Bob Whitcomb, Severn River Association
Marylanders Grow Oyster Participants
***PLEASE RSVP WITH JOSH DAVIDSBURG 410-260-8002***
WHAT: The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Oyster Recovery Partnership (ORP) will deliver 250 oyster cages to the Severn River to kick off the Marylanders Grow Oysters Program (MGO) Expansion. Volunteers will deliver the spat and cages to the program participants along the Severn, so they can start tending their oysters, which ORP and DNR will eventually move into an oyster sanctuary.
WHERE: Smiths Marina
529 Ridgley Rd
Crownsville, MD
WHEN: Thursday August 27, 2009
10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.
WHY: After a successful year growing oysters on the Tred Avon River, the Marylanders Grow Oysters program - with the help of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) such as the Severn River Association - is expanding to 11 new rivers. DNR and ORP will deliver more oysters over the next few weeks to rivers all over the state participating in the program.
Through the program, citizen volunteers tend to young oysters growing in wire mesh cages suspended from private piers for their first year of life. Citizen oyster growers enjoy the personal rewards of stewardship and learn about oysters while contributing to the enhancement of an oyster reef in their local tributary.
The Marylanders Grow Oysters Program is being managed by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources in conjunction with the Oyster Recovery Partnership, the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science and the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services. For more information about Marylanders Grow Oysters, visit www.dnr.maryland.gov/oysterproject.
Media Contact
Josh Davidsburg (410) 260-8002 office, (410) 507-7526 cell or jdavidsburg@dnr.state.md.us
Heather Epkins (410) 990-4970 (office) (443) 871-7131 cell or hepkins@oysterrecovery.org
