Maryland oyster farmers could start selling smaller oysters next year if the state's Aquaculture Coordinating Council has its way.
The council, a group that includes regulators, oyster farmers, legislators and scientists, voted at its November meeting to reduce the size at which a farm-raised oyster can be sold to a minimum of 2 inches. Currently, the market size for Maryland oysters is 3 inches.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources still has to introduce a regulation to make the change official. First, a delegate or a senator will need to introduce legislation to enable the department to make those regulations. The council expects that legislation will be introduced in the coming General Assembly, but it's unclear what the final change will look like. The Maryland Natural Resources Police oppose the change, on the grounds that enforcing the law and protecting bars from poachers will be difficult with two size classes.
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