Baltimore, MD – According to The Baltimore Sun, Maryland officials gathered data to seek federal disaster aid for the state’s struggling oyster industry, as watermen and Eastern Shore lawmakers pushed for relief through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). For weeks, legislators and watermen demanded assistance, pointing to market conditions among the worst in recent memory, a historically cold winter, and fallout from the Potomac River sewage spill that crippled the once-thriving Chesapeake Bay oyster sector. At a Friday meeting of the General Assembly’s Eastern Shore Delegation, Robert T. Brown, president of the Maryland Watermen’s Association, described oysters as “the backbone of the industry.” “Just about anybody who’s in the seafood industry oysters a certain amount,” he said. “They crab most of the season, but they’ll oyster a little bit during the winter. It’s just a way of life that has been for years. It’s our heritage.” Brown explained that supply was not the issue but rather a lack of buyers. The downturn became evident around Thanksgiving. “When Thanksgiving came and Christmas, our markets just fell apart,” he noted. “I started oystering back in the ’60s, and in Christmas, you never could catch enough … for some reason, we got a generation of people that’s not eating oysters.” Maryland Department of Natural Resources Secretary Josh Kurtz reported that the state had already engaged with NOAA on a possible fishery disaster declaration due to the market decline. Kurtz recounted a February 4 meeting with NOAA’s fisheries disaster team, prompted by appeals from lawmakers and watermen. “When we do a disaster declaration, there are several thresholds we have to meet,” Kurtz stated. NOAA guidance directed the state to use a bushel-based calculation instead of market value, and DNR staff compiled buy-ticket data to check if Maryland met the 35% threshold for review. Kurtz mentioned that additional buy tickets, which arrive at season’s end, were pending, affecting the timeline. “I do think the issue we’re gonna have with a disaster declaration is that we won’t have all of the ticket returns until a couple months, a couple weeks from now,” he said, but the state planned to share updates with NOAA. Meanwhile, Eastern Shore lawmakers suggested pursuing Stafford Act relief via FEMA and questioned if both paths could proceed concurrently. Republican Sen. Johnny Mautz IV inquired about conflicts. Kurtz replied that attorneys were confirming. “We’ve asked our attorneys to triple-check that,” he said. “But our initial reading is that we would not undermine them – that doing NOAA would not undermine FEMA and vice versa.” The market crash, combined with weeks of ice restricting fishing, prompted calls for urgent aid and stronger marketing for the next season. Officials announced Thursday emergency rules extending the oyster season by two weeks. Maryland Department of Agriculture marketing staff informed lawmakers of expanded promotions for wild-caught oysters, including a February campaign and efforts at a major industry expo. Lawmakers and watermen also addressed public communication after the Potomac spill, which ignited political friction between President Donald Trump and Gov. Wes Moore. Mautz referenced the dispute but focused on solutions. “I’ve seen the dialogue between the governor and the president going back and forth. I don’t really care who asked for it,” he said. Speakers noted that spill-related fears worsened markets, even for distant-harvested oysters. Eastern Shore Republican Del. Jay Jacobs called for state leaders to reassure the public. At a prior Waterman’s Caucus, members strongly recommended Gov. Moore and Kurtz appear on camera eating Maryland oysters. Kurtz agreed readily. “I would be glad to eat as many oysters as you would like me to do on television,” he said. “That is not a heavy ask for me in any way.” These initiatives highlight the vital economic and cultural role of the Chesapeake Bay oyster industry in Maryland, as efforts intensify to protect it from ongoing threats. For more information, visit The Baltimore Sun.
