Oyster Recovery Partnership – Baltimore Magazine

A New Partnership Aims to Add Billions of Oysters to Chesapeake Bay

Lydia Woolever — Wed, 28 Feb 2018 15:54:00 +0000

On Monday, a coalition of Chesapeake Bay advocates launched a lofty new commitment: adding 10 billion new oysters to the Chesapeake Bay by 2025.

Local oyster populations are currently said to be less than 1 percent of their historic peak, which some estimate included as many as one trillion oysters only 150 years ago. Numbers started to plummet in the late 1800s, with current estimates as low as one billion, due in part to overharvesting, habitat loss, pollution, and disease.

In a Herculean effort, the Chesapeake 10 Billion Oysters Partnership—made up of some 20 nonprofits, scientific organizations, community groups, and oystermen from Maryland and Virginia—wants to bring the oyster back, and, in doing so, the health of the Chesapeake Bay.

“As a bay community, we have come a long way—oysters are doing much better, but they’re nowhere near where they could be,” says Will Baker, president of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF). “We hope that setting a numeric goal can have a real effect on accelerating that restoration.”

Over the course of the next seven years, this collaborative initiative has three priorities: restore oyster sanctuaries, or traditional oyster reefs restricted from harvest; promote science-based fishery management, as more than 75 percent of the bay’s oyster bottom is open to commercial fishing; and increase oyster aquaculture, a fast-growing industry that involves cultivating seafood in an aquatic environment.

The end-goals start with water quality. In recent years, the Chesapeake Bay has shown signs of improved health, including increased water clarity and the resurgence of underwater grasses, but it still earns a C on its annual environmental report card. One mature oyster can filter as much as 50 gallons of water each day, with local lore claiming that the historic bivalves were once able to filter the entire 18-trillion-gallon estuary in as little as one week. Ten billion oysters could eventually mean as much as 500 billion gallons every 24 hours.

Oyster restoration is nothing new for the Chesapeake Bay, where efforts have been in place for decades and some 1 billion spat, or baby oysters, are now planted each year. Currently, the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement has been working since 2014 to restore and protect oyster sanctuaries in 10 regional tributaries by the same deadline of 2025. In Baltimore, the CBF and Waterfront Partnership’s Great Baltimore Oyster Partnership are growing an annual 250,000 oysters in five oyster gardens around the harbor that are then transferred to an oyster sanctuary on the Patapsco River.

In addition to water quality, oyster reefs act as habitat for small fish, invertebrates, as well as their own young. Oyster larvae latch onto these hardy, intricate structures, often made up of the shells of adult oysters, where they can then safely grow. Through organizations like the Oyster Recovery Partnership (ORP), oyster shells are now being regularly recycled throughout the region to help rebuild depleted reefs, with each bushel of shell able to produce some 6,000 baby oysters. One such location is at the National Aquarium, where an artificial reef sits near Pier 3.

Reefs also help protect shorelines, acting as a buffer from inclement or, these days, extreme weather. After Hurricane Sandy, the state of New York approved a $60-million restoration project to add oyster beds back into the New York City harbor, where some 200,000 acres of reef once protected against erosion, storm damage, and flooding. The city’s similar Billion Oyster Project also has the goal of adding one billion oysters to the waters by 2035. “Oysters are increasingly being seen as a relatively inexpensive way to gird the environment against natural catastrophes which we know are coming with climate change,” says Rona Kobell, science writer for the Maryland Sea Grant and former reporter for the Chesapeake Bay Journal where she covered the oyster industry. “You can also use volunteers and make it an educational tool.”

Beyond environmental impacts, another goal of the 10 Billion Oysters Partnership is to engage new constituencies and inspire government action in uncertain political times. “We realistically believe this is an attainable goal,” says Baker, noting that a formal population study won’t be complete until the end of the year, “but there’s one wild card, and that’s federal funding.”

The Trump Administration has proposed budget cuts that would dramatically impact restoration efforts on the Chesapeake Bay, including eliminating the Environmental Protection Agency’s funding for cleanup efforts via the Chesapeake Bay Program, as well as support for other critical programs led by the Army Corps of Engineers and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), like the Sea Grant. “One of the big parts of this partnership will be lobbying for federal and state money,” says Baker. “We’re very concerned that those resources will not be available without a real fight.”

The coalition also hopes to drive economic growth throughout the watershed. Maryland and Virginia have lost more than $4 billion in the last three decades due to oyster population decline. “More oysters are going to mean more jobs,” says Baker. “Jobs occur at every level of the species. The wild harvest clearly involves commercial watermen who for centuries have caught oysters along the Chesapeake Bay. Those are really important jobs, especially for local, rural communities. But that only tells part of the story. Once an oyster hits the dock, it takes many people to process, ship, and prepare it, so there are economic multipliers that people don’t often think of.”

The same notion applies to oyster aquaculture, commonly referred to as oyster farming, which raises native Eastern, or crassotrea virginica, oysters around the bay. As the wild harvest continues to struggle, oyster farming has grown into a $30-million industry. Virginia leads the charge, having adopted the practice as far back as the 19th century. Maryland, on the other hand, took until 2009 to fully support it across the state, but since 2012, the number of aquaculture leases has jumped by 1,000 percent.

As the owner of the Orchard Point Oyster Company on the Eastern Shore, Scott Budden sees the coalition’s large network as a major advantage for both new and established oyster farmers. “For new growers, the coalition provides a big resource,” he says, as starting an oyster farm requires not only financial capital but also technical know-how and state approval. “For those of us who have been around a little while, it gives us political clout. There’s currently no unified shellfish growers’ association in Maryland, so we don’t have a political arm to lean on when things come through Annapolis that are potentially detrimental to our industry.”

With previously individual efforts uniting for this common goal, it’s a matter of strength in numbers, with each of the 20 partners able to benefit from the other, be it a local university, NGO, or federal agency—a recreational oyster gardener, professional oyster farmer, or traditional waterman. There has long been a contentious, somewhat territorial relationship between the latter two, but programs like OysterFutures, run by the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES) and the likes of waterman-turned-aquaculturist Johnny Shockley of Hoopers Island Oyster Company, have been working to bring those communities together and encourage both to succeed.

“The goal here is to build oyster populations, increase their ecological role in the sanctuaries, and really promote and develop aquaculture into its full potential,” says Donald Boesch, president emeritus of UMCES and one of the partnership’s scientific advisors, “but also to use good science to find more sustainable ways to allow a public fishery.”

But the question remains: Is this ambitious objective even realistic? “What makes this partnership unique is the audacity of the number,” says John Racanelli, CEO of the National Aquarium. “Growing our oyster population tenfold by 2025 is a bold, yet attainable goal.”

Boesch points to the UMCES-run Horn Point Laboratory oyster hatchery on the Eastern Shore, where nearly 2 billion spat-on-shell are now produced each year. “My colleagues and I looked at this and said, ‘Why limit it to 10 billion?’”

And if they hit that mark before their deadline? “You can rest assured,” says Baker, “we’re going to set a higher goal and keep on working.”

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Summer Olympics Food and Drink Specials

Lauren Cohen — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 16:48:00 +0000

Having won a total of 19 medals over the past three days (three of which were clinched by Maryland swimmers), Team USA is killing it in Rio. To celebrate, local bars and restaurants are throwing their own patriotic viewing parties complete with creative food and drink deals inspired by the Games. No matter which event is your favorite, grab a group of friends and head to any one of these area eateries to watch the all of the action unfold.

Alexander’s Tavern: Crowd around the bar at this Fells Point favorite to peruse a lengthy list of Olympic-inspired offerings. For all events, Alexander’s will feature orders of gold medal wings for $6, Coors Light Silver Bullets for $2.75, bronze-colored Bayou rum drinks for $5, and $4 Zika shots—a tongue-in-cheek creation fusing Smirnoff citrus, triple sec cranberry juice, and pineapple juice. 710 S. Broadway, 410-522-0000

Liam Flynn’s Ale House: It’s only fitting that this neighborhood pub—a go-to spot for catching international soccer matches—would get in on the fun for the Olympics. As a nod to this summer’s host country, Liam Flynn’s is offering $5 Brazilian misto quente (ham and cheese) sandwiches alongside $4 “Caipirinha de Liam” drinks—the bar’s own riff on Brazil’s national cocktail that incorporates rum, mint, sugar, and lime. 22 W. North Ave., 410-244-8447

Polo Bar: This hotel bar inside Hunt Valley Inn is also showcasing authentic Caipirinhas, alongside a special menu of international small plates inspired by the competing teams. Highlights will include $8 all-American Buffalo wings, $16 French cheese and charcuterie boards, and $7 mini pork egg rolls in honor of Team China. 245 Shawan Road, Hunt Valley, 410-785-7000

2016 Oyster Olympics: Throughout the course of the Games, a handful of city hotspots including Slainte, Kooper’s, Rowhouse Grille, Ryleigh’s Oyster, and Mt. Washington Tavern are teaming up with Oyster Recovery Partnership (ORP) and Flying Dog Brewery for this special Olympic-themed promotion. From August 5-21, all participating restaurants will be running specials on oysters with Flying Dog beer pairings (think six raw oysters and a beer in a commemorative glass for $15.) Proceeds from the event will support ORP’s efforts to plant baby oysters in the Chesapeake Bay.

Slainte: In addition to participating in the Oyster Olympics, this Fells Point stalwart will be running soccer specials such as $3 Heineken, Newcastle Brown Ale, Dos Equis, and Strongbow Cider drafts during all tournament games. This weekend, the bar will also offer a complimentary breakfast buffet for all fans that purchase a beer and don their favorite jersey. 1700 Thames St., 410-563-6600

Looney’s Pub: In Canton Square, this neighborhood hangout is cheering on Team USA with discounted American beers. For all events, bar-goers can enjoy Budweiser and Bud Light bottles for $3. 2900 O’Donnell Square 410-675-9235

Mother’s Grille: During all USA events, head to any Mother’s location to down $3 Bud Light and $4 Stella Artois bottles while rocking your red, white, and blue. Multiple locations including 1113 S. Charles St., 410-244-8686

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Weekend Lineup: April 29-May 1

Lydia Woolever — Thu, 28 Apr 2016 12:08:00 +0000

Five things to eat, drink, see, hear, and do with your Charm City weekend.

EAT

May 1: Sprint for Spat

Fells Point Square, S. Broadway & Thames St. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. $25.
Update: Sprint for Spat will be postponed due to torrential thunderstorms on Sunday. The event will be held at the same time and location on June 12.

Spat are baby oysters, and as you may well know by now, oysters are an important key to cleaning up the Chesapeake Bay. This Sunday, Flying Dog Brewery is hosting the annual Sprint for Spat, where athletes of all levels can run down a stretch of Fells Point brick to benefit the Oyster Recovery Partnership, which has been working tirelessly to plant spat, restore the bay’s decimated oyster beds, and effectively bring it back to life. After a mere 100 meters, you can replenish your lost energy with raw oysters on the half shell, grilled oysters, and oyster shooters from local farms like True Chesapeake, Barren Island, Hollywood, and Rappahannock River. If half-shells aren’t your thing, there will also be plenty of pork from The Smoking Swine pork, plus beers by Flying Dog and music by DJ Landis Expandis. Proceeds will also benefit the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults.

DRINK

April 30: The Baltimore Whiskey Company presents: A Soul Train Dance Party

De Kleine Duivel, 3602 Hickory Ave. 9 p.m. Free.

This weekend, Baltimore’s young distillery is bringing us more than just craft whiskey, creative liqueurs, and a new high-proof gin. They’re also bringing us a booty-shaking, boogie-woogie dance party, with their last-Saturday-of-the-month Soul Train shindig at Hampden’s Belgian beer bar. Don your funkiest threads, order some incomprehensible ales, and throw inhibition to the wind as you hip-wag, high step, and straight-up shimmy across the dance floor. Expect epic funk, soul, and disco music by DJ James Nasty, as well as BWC drink specials available all night.

SEE

April 30: Harbor East’s FashionEASTa

Harbor East, President & Aliceanna Sts. 1-6 p.m. Free.

This weekend, Baltimore’s “luxury district” is about to get a little more luxe as Harbor East transforms into Baltimore’s version of Rodeo Drive. Hundreds of guests will fill the streets for exclusive sales, shopping events, and peeks into new stores like Warby Parker, Brooks Brothers, and Free People. Grab drinks and bites from neighborhood bars and restaurants like the all-new Loch Bar, and get ready for the main event. At 3:30 p.m., the streets turn into a high-fashion runway, with local celebrities strutting their stuff in the latest spring styles from HE stores, including Anthropologie, South Moon Under, and Under Armour. Past models have included the likes of Baltimore Raven Justin Tucker, MIX 106.5 DJ Maria Dennis, and Bond St. District bandmate (and our 2016 Top Singles) Paul Hutson, so arrive early and nab a good seat. A portion of ticket sales will benefit the local chapter of Dress for Success.

HEAR

April 30: Charm City Folk & Bluegrass Festival

Druid Hill Park, 3100 Swann Dr. 10 a.m.-10 p.m. $57-161.

If the Charm City Folk & Bluegrass Festival is any indication, it’s safe to say that Baltimore’s Americana music scene is not putting its fiddles down anytime soon. Now going four years strong, the festival will once again return to a grassy knoll of Druid Hill Park for one full Saturday of TK music, including headliners like jam-band master Keller Williams and the Travelin’ McCourys and homegrown talent like Cris Jacobs and the Ampersand Stringband. On top of that, you can tip back Union Craft beers (like its festival special Country Boy Wit) and plenty of local eats, including The Local Oyster, Jimmy’s Famous Seafood, Otterbein’s Bakery, and The Charmery, who will be hawking their own flavor of the weekend, (Blue)berry Lemon(grass).

DO

April 30: Charm City Craft Mafia’s “Buzz” Spring Maker Market

Space 2640, 2640 St. Paul St. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free.

Baltimore is a city of movers, shakers, and, increasingly, makers. And a few days out of the year, Charm City Craft Mafia does a great job at bringing a bunch of those DIY doers under one roof. The annual Holiday Heap is a local winter favorite and Pile of Craft is the answer for spring. Now renamed “Buzz,” the latter maker market returns to St. John’s Methodist Church in Charles Village this Saturday. From housewares, stationary, and screen-printings to clothing and toys, you can browse a bevy of handmade goods from more than 50 American crafters, including local artists like Annie Howe Papercuts, Almanac Industries, Bowerbox Press, Radica Textiles, the Broken Plate Pendant Company, and Knit Soy and Metal, to name a few. Whether you’re spring cleaning or Mother’s Day shopping, it’s a nice warm way to spend your cool and cloudy afternoon.

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Party for Preakness

Jess Mayhugh — Mon, 12 May 2014 13:20:00 +0000

You don’t have to be at Pimlico racetrack to enjoy this year’s horse race when so many bars and restaurants are offering Preakness specials. Whether you’re looking for an elegant affair or a casual hangout spot, there’s somewhere in Baltimore for you to celebrate.

The Mt. Washington Tavern is currently offering its own spin on a Black-Eyed Susan for this year’s Preakness and, while supplies last, you can even keep the commemorative glass. The first order is $10, with $7 refills on Tavern Susans. America’s Best Racing is hosting a free pre-Preakness party at the tavern on Wednesday, May 14, with a chance to meet the jockeys and win Preakness tickets. The party begins at 7 p.m., and the first 50 guests to RSVP via Yelp get a free drink ticket.

Stay caffeinated for the race with coffee from Chesapeake Bay Roasting Company. Based in Crofton, the company has been named the official coffee of the Preakness, and you can get a cup at multiple Preakness events. The CBRC van has also been driving all over Maryland, giving away tickets to the race. Keep up with their Preakness activities on Facebook.

Claddagh Pub and Mother’s Grille are both offering the same Preakness package—for $109, guests get an infield general admission ticket, transportation to and from the race, and access to the pregame brunch party at either location. Both brunches will be serving up $3 Bud Light drafts and $12 pitchers of mimosas and Bloody Marys. Tickets can be purchased online.

Mad River Bar & Grille is offering a Preakness package for $100 that includes a free breakfast buffet, transportation to Pimlico, and a ticket to the Infield Mug Club. The package also includes an open bar for the hour before and after Preakness. Reservations can be made by calling 410-727-2333.

If you love the dressing up for the race, you won’t want to miss the after-party. Baltimore chef Spike Gjerde is hosting a Preakness cookout, “The Winner’s Wind-Down,” in Belvedere Square at 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 17. Flying Dog beer, whiskey, and Maryland cocktails will be served, along with coffee and dessert. Tickets are $100 for individuals or $300 for a group of four. The money will partially benefit the Oyster Recovery Partnership, which is devoted to helping return healthy oysters to the Chesapeake Bay. Preakness attire and hats are strongly encouraged. Tickets can be purchased online.

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Ryleigh’s Oyster Hosts Its Annual Oysterfest

Jess Mayhugh — Tue, 08 Oct 2013 10:30:00 +0000

The seventh annual Oysterfest, sponsored by Ryleigh’s Oyster, returns to Federal Hill from October 9-13 with bushels of family-friendly fun.

Cross Street will close down on Saturday, October 12, and Sunday,
October 13, to allow visitors to check out vendors, ranging from artists
and watermen to restaurants and community organizations.

The event features buck-a-shuck oysters from as many as 20 oyster
farms, live musical acts, and more. The pearl of the festivities is the
dress-to-impress Moet Oyster Ball on Wednesday, October 9. Tickets
are $65. Attendees will enjoy unlimited Moet Imperial Champagne, an
open bar, hors d’oeuvres, and a raw bar with more than 15 varieties of
the bivalves.

The crème de la crème of the briny bash is the third annual Baltimore
Oyster Shucking Championship at 5 p.m. on Saturday at the Cross Street
stage in front of Ryleigh’s. Aficionados and amateurs alike can enter to
win cash prizes and a paid sponsorship to the National Oyster Shucking
Championship in St. Mary’s County. Defending champion George “Hannibal”
Hastings will shuck again to uphold his title since the competition’s
start in 2011. Mayor Stephanie Rawlings Blake will officiate at the
ceremonies.

Proceeds raised throughout the celebrations will be donated to the
Oyster Recovery Partnership and The Living Classrooms Foundation
shipboard department, both local nonprofit organizations.

Whether you have a palate for oysters or not, come out for a taste of marine merriment.

—Danielle Moore

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