ANNAPOLIS, MD. — For the past several years the O’Malley Administration has set out a number of initiatives designed to protect the native oyster species from over-harvesting and to grow the oyster beds, considered vital in that oysters filter Bay water.
As part of that effort, large oyster sanctuaries have been established where oystering is either restricted or banned, making those areas tempting targets for one of Maryland’s other native species — the oyster pirate.