Maryland requests disaster declaration for Chesapeake oyster fishery

By: Christine Condon

Outlets: Maryland Matters

Published: February 27, 2026

Words: 995

Last Updated: 1 week, 5 days ago

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Maryland requested a federal disaster declaration for the Chesapeake Bay oyster fishery Friday, after a perfect storm of bad weather and headline-grabbing environmental incidents depressed the market.

It’s not that there aren’t enough oysters, state officials say, but that the falling prices are hammering the industry.

In December, the Centers for Disease Control linked a multistate salmonella outbreak to eating raw oysters. Then, January brought a massive snowstorm and a prolonged cold snap, freezing the …

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