The oyster season for watermen in the Chesapeake Bay has been a disaster, with demand plummeting between Thanksgiving and Christmas and health warnings linked to raw oysters scaring customers away. The harvest, which typically starts this time of year, was expected to be good but instead brought only 188,600 bushels of oysters from October to January, a 44% decline below the five-year average.
Restoration efforts have helped increase oyster populations since the fishery hit rock bottom in 2003-04. However, many customers are not buying due to tight economic times and competition from other regions. Gov. Wes Moore has appealed for disaster aid from President Donald Trump’s administration to help support watermen and promote public awareness about the health safety of Chesapeake shellfish.
The Jan. 19 collapse of a pipe in Washington sent millions of gallons of sewage into the Potomac River, causing widespread harm to the bay’s ecosystem and further straining the oyster industry. The disaster has led to calls for federal aid and a dispute between Trump and Moore over relief efforts.
Watermen like Rich Pelz, owner of Circle C Oyster Ranch, are optimistic that the industry will rebound quickly, but others, including Rep. Andy Harris and Del. Jay Jacobs, are worried about the long-term impacts of this season’s slow harvest.
Source: https://www.thebanner.com/community/climate-environment/chesapeake-bay-oyster-federal-aid-maryland-FGMN4QENBRDF7MSI2CCD7XSSPQ