Oyster Recovery Partnership

ORP began 2021 expecting our oyster restoration, public fishery, aquaculture, and partnership work to return to pre-pandemic levels. Our partners’ and the public’s appetite to recover was met with our resolve to plant more oysters, welcome additional supporters, launch new initiatives, and heighten awareness of the power of the mighty oyster. The proof is conclusive: 2021 was the third-most prolific planting year in ORP's history, achieving near-record levels planted in the five Maryland tributaries targeted for restoration; three of those rivers have been completed and work in the remaining two got underway in 2021. To date, ORP has planted more than 9 billion oysters in Bay waters! ORP is on track to complete oyster sanctuary restoration in five Chesapeake Bay tributaries by 2025. Once complete, these will be the largest man-made reefs in the world!