Oysters by the Bay – Step One: Growing Spat

Horn Point is the first stop in our two-field trip series following the life of an oyster: from spat in a tank, to juveniles in a garden, and finally, to a home in the Chesapeake Bay.

As the largest hatchery on the East Coast, the Horn Point Lab Oyster Hatchery produces millions of baby oysters each year. We’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at the remarkable process of oyster production. From broodstock conditioning and spawning to larval rearing and algae cultivation, we will see every stage involved in raising oysters from start to finish.

We will tour the Aquaculture and Restoration Ecology Laboratory. This state-of-the-art facility has greatly expanded the capacity for oyster production and provided quarantine and controlled-environment facilities needed to advance oyster culture and disease research. The hatchery produces a variety of oyster larvae for use in oyster research, oyster restoration, and educational projects. Over the past decade, spawning oysters at the Horn Point Lab Oyster Hatchery has resulted in the deployment of over one billion oyster spat to the waters of the Chesapeake Bay in the hopes of slowing the Chesapeake Bay oyster decline and restoring the health of the Bay. The Horn Point Oyster Hatchery is part of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science.

• Our meeting location can be found in your registration confirmation email when payment is completed.
• Watch for additional details in a welcome email sent a few days before the date.
• Children over the age of 12 are welcome to attend with an adult. No more than two children per adult.
• All participants must be pre-registered. If you are on the waitlist and show up to the event uninvited, you will not be allowed to participate.
• All children must meet age requirements and be registered as a guest of their adult.
• Dress according to the weather. Layers of clothing work best. Include a hat for sun protection or warmth, depending on the season.
• Wear sturdy closed-toe hiking or athletic shoes with non-slip soles that can safely handle slippery surfaces.
• No pets, please.

All events are held rain or shine. If any event is cancelled due to severe weather, you will receive an email or text. If you do not receive a weather-related email, the trip will proceed as planned.

NEW Payment and Cancellation Policy: Payment is due online at the time of registration. Cancellations made 14 or more days in advance of the event will receive a refund minus a 5% processing fee. Cancellations made within 14 days of the event will not receive a refund. Events and field trips with fees of $25 or less are non-refundable at any time unless canceled by NHSM. NHSM retains the right to update or change these requirements at any time.

For questions, please email Jayne at JAsh@marylandnature.org.