Maryland Adds Two Extra Weeks to Oyster Season After Ice Blocks Watermen

Maryland officials have extended the wild oyster harvesting season through April 14 to help watermen who lost work days due to frozen waterways this winter. The extension comes as oyster populations in the Chesapeake Bay reach their highest levels in more than 20 years.

Maryland watermen will get additional time to harvest oysters this spring after state officials announced a two-week extension to the wild oyster season, pushing the end date from March 31 to April 14.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources approved the extension to assist commercial harvesters who lost valuable work days when frigid January and February temperatures created ice coverage across much of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries.

All existing equipment restrictions and daily catch limits will stay in place during the extended period. However, handscraping operations in hand tong areas will not be allowed under the new timeline.

“Maryland’s watermen have faced a difficult oyster season after recent declines in market demand and ice on waterways blocked access to traditional harvest areas,” stated DNR Secretary Josh Kurtz. “This oyster season extension will give them additional opportunities to boost their livelihoods and the local communities where they live. DNR made this decision after extensive conversations with industry stakeholders and scientists. Coordinated oyster restoration and management efforts led by DNR have resulted in a multi-year increase of the overall oyster population in Maryland. We are confident that extending the season will not affect the ongoing resurgence of oysters in the Bay and local rivers.”

The decision comes during a period of remarkable recovery for Maryland’s oyster populations, which have reached their strongest levels in over two decades. Recent state assessments show adult oyster numbers in Maryland waters have more than tripled since 2005, jumping from 2.4 billion to 7.6 billion oysters.

Fall surveys tracking oyster reproduction have documented strong breeding success for the fifth straight year in 2024 and 2025, following an exceptional 2023 season when baby oyster populations reached levels not observed in a generation. Scientists recorded approximately 87 young oysters per bushel in 2023, nearly four times the typical median of 23.6 per bushel.

The State Oyster Committee, made up of representatives from county oyster committees, initially requested the season extension. The chair of DNR’s Tidal Fish Advisory Commission, which includes commercial watermen and seafood dealers, reviewed and endorsed the proposal before forwarding it to DNR leadership.

State crews worked continuously this winter to break ice formations using two different vessels, keeping navigation channels open and helping watermen reach fishing areas. Despite round-the-clock ice-breaking efforts, the severe cold caused waters to refreeze quickly, leaving many commercial boats docked and unable to operate.

The extension also addresses challenging market conditions that have affected watermen beyond weather problems. Despite abundant oysters available for harvest, buyers have significantly reduced their purchasing, with many watermen reporting that dealers are only buying oysters one day per week or less frequently over the past two years.

Residents can support local watermen and fishing communities by purchasing Maryland oysters from seafood markets and restaurants throughout the region.

Secretary Kurtz officially approved the two-week extension on Thursday, with DNR posting public notification on its website the same day. The new regulation takes effect February 23, 2026, and covers all commercial oyster harvesting equipment types through April 14, 2026.

Maryland’s Department of Health, Department of the Environment, and DNR work together continuously to ensure oyster-growing waters meet safety standards for shellfish harvesting under the National Shellfish Sanitation Program. This federal program requires regular testing of shellfish waters and oversight of harvesting and processing to guarantee oysters are safe for consumption.