State officials in Maryland have granted commercial watermen an additional two weeks to harvest wild oysters after harsh winter conditions prevented boats from reaching fishing areas for extended periods.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources approved extending the harvesting season until April 14, pushing back the original March 31 deadline. Bitter cold weather in January and early February created ice formations across numerous waterways and sections of the Chesapeake Bay, leaving fishing vessels stranded at docks.
All existing regulations regarding equipment types and daily catch limits will continue during the extended period. However, handscraping methods will not be allowed in designated hand tong zones throughout the extension.
State crews operated ice-breaking vessels around the clock this winter to maintain open navigation channels and provide access to oyster beds. Despite these continuous efforts, the extreme cold caused waters to refreeze rapidly, severely limiting commercial fishing operations.
The timing coincides with encouraging news about oyster populations, which have reached their strongest levels in more than twenty years. Recent stock assessments revealed adult oyster numbers in Maryland waters have surged to 7.6 billion, representing more than a three-fold increase from the 2005 low point of 2.4 billion.
Reproduction surveys tracking young oyster development showed healthy breeding activity in 2024 and 2025, following exceptional results in 2023. That record year produced approximately 87 young oysters per bushel – nearly four times the typical average of 23.6 per bushel – with widespread distribution throughout bay waters and tributaries.
The State Oyster Committee, comprised of county oyster committee representatives, initially petitioned for the season extension. The Tidal Fish Advisory Commission, which includes commercial fishermen and seafood industry dealers, reviewed and endorsed the proposal before forwarding it to state officials for final approval.
The extended season also addresses ongoing market difficulties facing oyster harvesters. Despite abundant oyster availability in harvesting areas, buyers have significantly reduced their purchasing frequency, with many watermen reporting sales opportunities limited to just one day per week or less over the past two years.
DNR Secretary Josh Kurtz authorized the two-week extension on Thursday, with the agency posting official notification on its website the same day. The new regulations took effect February 23, 2026, applying to all commercial harvesting equipment types through the April 14 conclusion date.
