Oyster Bed Restoration and Management Fact Sheet

NRCS will provide financial and technical assistance to eligible applicants to restore oyster beds in approved restoration sites throughout Maryland’s portion of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. NRCS’s conservation practice standard for Restoration and Management for Rare or Declining Habitat and the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) will be used to implement and fund the project.

Options for Oyster Bed Restoration

Through the Restoration and Management of Rare or Declining Habitat technical standard, Maryland NRCS will support four conservation practice options for oyster habitat restoration. NRCS and our conservation partners will work with you to help determine which best suits your objectives.

For all options, NRCS requires the establishment of an oyster or clam shell base (bed) of at least 2 inches thickness. When dredging is part of the option, the participant must use a net on the dredge (i.e. bagged dredging), so the shell is brought on deck, culled, and placed on the bottom. NRCS encourages the use of dredging to bring up as much shell as possible, because of the benefits associated with larger oyster beds.

Option 1: Dredging existing shell with oyster harvest dredge gear to reclaim sediment covered shell, placing and concentrating the shell to create a suitable base, and allowing for natural spat (free floating larval oysters) to set on the shell. This practice is limited to areas identified as having sufficient occurrence of natural spat sets. Areas include parts of St. Mary’s River, Honga River, Fishing Bay, Manokin River, and bottom between South Marsh Island and Smith Island.

Option 2: Dredging as described in Option 1 to establish 2 inches of shell bed, and planting the shell bed with spat on cultch (oyster larvae attached to shell). Spat on cultch may be purchased or produced at a remote setting station.

Option 3: Dredging 1 inch of shell base, and purchasing and placing an additional inch of shell to establish the minimum 2 inch thick bed. The shell bed will be seeded with spat on cultch. Spat on cultch may be purchased or produced at a remote setting station. This option provides some flexibility for cases where shell available to dredge may be limited. * If oyster shell is unavailable to purchase for shell base, clam shell may be substituted.

Option 4: On hard bottom, where shell is not available to dredge, 2 inches of shell will be purchased and placed to establish the bed. The shell bed will be seeded with spat on cultch. Spat on cultch may be purchased or produced at a remote setting station. * If oyster shell is unavailable to purchase for shell base, clam shell may be substituted.

More Considerations

Participants may perform their own dredging or select a dredge operator from the Oyster Recovery Partnership list of qualified operators.

Where seeding oysters is required, NRCS requires a minimum of 70% of contracted areas be seeded with native oysters capable of reproduction (i.e. diploids). The remaining 30% of the area may be seeded with sterile triploid eastern oysters.

Individuals setting their own spat at remote setting stations must have had training or be able to demonstrate successful use of the technique.

NRCS Payments (per acre)

Option 1: $1,130

Option 2
Purchased Spat on Shell: $9,230
Remote Setting: $3,820

Option 3
With Oyster Shell Base Purchased Spat on Shell: $13,550 Remote Setting: $8,140
With Clam Shell Base Purchased Spat on Shell: $10,880 Remote Setting: $5,470

Option 4
With Oyster Shell Base Purchased Spat on Shell: $16,750 Remote Setting: $11,340
With Clam Shell Base Purchased Spat on Shell: $11,400 Remote Setting: $5,990

NRCS has committed up to $1 million in funding. Oyster Bed Restoration and Management contracts will be 2 years long, with the practices expected to be completed in year one. A cap may be placed on individual practices to ensure an equitable distribution of funds to interested qualified participants.

Payment Schedule

Who can apply?

Individuals, legal entities or joint operations who produce or sell an annual minimum of $1,000 of agricultural products.

Applicants must currently hold a Maryland Department of Natural Resources submerged land/on-bottom shellfish aquaculture lease or provide other proof of land control (i.e. deeded riparian rights).

Applicants will be required to submit a production plan that demonstrates a commitment to sustainable management of the planned aquaculture operation.

Applicants must have all necessary permits and licenses to conduct shellfish management and harvesting in the state of Maryland.

How do I apply?

Contact your local USDA Service Center to begin the program application process.

You will need to establish a customer file in the Farm Service Agency (FSA) system and file several additional forms to ensure that you are eligible for EQIP, including:
CCC-1200: Conservation Program Application
CCC-926: Adjusted Gross Income Certification
AD-1026: Highly Erodible Land & Wetland Conservation Certification
For legal entities and joint operations only: CCC-901/CCC-902: Member’s Information/Farm Operating Plan and proof of Signature Authority

When should I apply?

2011 applications must be submitted by May 13th. All applications will be evaluated in a competitive ranking process.

Ranking factors will include experience, bottom suitability, Maryland water classification, the likelihood of natural spat fall, and whether oyster (preferred) or clam shells are used to establish the base (bed).

Additional Information

Oyster Program Fact Sheet
Oyster Bed Restoration - Restoration and Management of Rare or Declining Habitats Job Sheet
Oyster Aquaculture Fact Sheet - Producing Oyster Seed by Remote Setting
Northeastern Regional Aquaculture Center Shellfish Aquaculture Fact Sheets

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