Results are in for this year’s oyster reproduction study! For the past seven years, we’ve measured the number of juvenile oysters that attach to oyster shell in traps placed throughout the tidal St. Mary’s River. We refer to this number as spatfall.

After summarizing the annual data, we found a decline in the 2024 spatfall from the previous three years. Spatfall in 2024 was 57 % lower than in 2023, which could be due to water quality characteristics such as low salinity, low dissolved oxygen in the river, or even natural variation in oyster spawning activity. However, 2021 to 2023 were particularly good years for spatfall. The spatfall this year was still higher than in 2018-2020!

The results of this study help inform fishery managers, watermen, and restoration practitioners about where oysters will have the most success. Thanks to our volunteers, student interns, Cove Point Natural Heritage Trust, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, and St. Mary’s College of Maryland for supporting this project. Please click here to read the full report!