The Southern Maryland Oyster Cultivation Society is a new organization dedicated to restoring native oysters to creeks on the lower Patuxent River. The goal is to reduce water pollution by accumulating many oysters in selected locations. Oysters (besides tasting great) are filter feeders that eat microorganisms. They reduce algae that cloud the water and convert nitrogen that fed the algae into muscle and shell.
Take pride in doing something concrete to clean Maryland waters. Gain satisfaction of working with in your community to reduce local pollution by restoring native oysters. For additional information, contact Len Zuza (410) 326-0450 or Fax — (410) 326-0702 or e-mail MrOyster@smocs.org Web site: www.smocs.org
SMOCS’ long-term goal is to improve the water quality and habitat in the creeks along the lower Patuxent River by raising as many oysters as possible using off-bottom culture techniques and then placing year-old oysters in strategic locations where their accumulated numbers would create new oyster communities. The “oyster farmers” would be local residents who would raise oyster spat* under/near docks. SMOCS plans to establish large enough oyster reefs in “contained” waters that oysters would filter all the water in a given creek once a month – an ambitious, but achievable goal.
Presented to interested and concerned citizens by the Dunkirk Area Concerned Citizens Association (DACCA)