Hello everyone, my name is Lynn and our family lives on Watertown Road in the Pines. When we first bought our home, in 2016, we learned about Oyster Aquaculture and how much raising oysters benefits our local waters—improving water quality.

Soon after, we learned that we could get oyster spat and a cage from Protectors of the St. Martin River’s Joe Jankowski less than ten minutes from our home. Protectors of the St. Martin River is “a coalition of citizens and communities along the St. Martin River, Bishopville Prong, Shingle Landing Prong from Bishopville to Showell to Ocean Pines. This group is for people that are concerned about the health and safety of the St. Martin River, its tributaries, and surrounding area.”

So, we decided to give it a try. It’s so easy. Joe provides the spat ($5.00 for 75) and hand-makes the cages. No upcharge—just the cost of materials, $40.00. You put the oyster spat in and let them be. Easiest thing ever. If the cage gets mucky you can rinse if off with a hose. After about a year the oysters can be brought back to Joe who donates them to Maryland Coastal Bays OR set by the grassy marshland where you live. We set our grown oysters around the marsh grass near our home on Manklin Creek.

It would be amazing to have more homes raising oysters and cleaning up our water at the same time.

If you are interested in giving it a try feel free to email me LynnPKH@gmail.com or contact Joe (who is far more knowledgeable than I am) directly at protectorsstmartinriver@yahoo.com. We just added 150 new spat over the weekend!

Imagine the improvement to our water if everyone participates!

Following are a few links with facts and other information about raising oysters!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cuP0RJOf8LE
https://mdcoastalbays.org/the-programs/outreach/oyster-gardening/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SLCOG2IB9k&t=3s