National Fisherman

Oysters

Matthew Oliver and two of his children. Photo courtesy of Melanie Parent

Missing New Jersey oysterman found in Delaware Bay

NF Staff

NOAA Fisheries has taken the next step in exploring offshore aquaculture development in Alaska. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock

NOAA eyes Alaska aquaculture, opens door for public input

NF Staff

This winter, heavy snowfall and prolonged freezing temperatures locked down Long Island's bays and waterways for multiple weeks, blocking oyster farmers from reaching their growing areas and causing significant damage to gear, vessels, and farm infrastructure. Shutterstock photo.

New York seeks disaster designation for oyster farmers hit by winter freeze

Eric Haun

WHOI Sea Grant has awarded $1.6 million to four new research projects targeting pressing challenges facing Massachusetts' aquaculture and fisheries industries. Photo courtesy of WHOI

$1.6M to aquaculture and fisheries research

NF Staff

Recovery and cleanup efforts continue after a crude oil discharge reported near the Louisiana Offshore Oil Port on Feb. 26, 2026. Photo courtesy of USCG

Oil spill leaves fishermen waiting on cleanup, seafood safety answers

NF Staff

Sparrows Point Container Terminal Project partners with Oyster Recovery Partnership to remove derelict fishing gear from Upper Chesapeake Bay. Photo courtesy of Oyster Recovery Partnership

Ghost gear sweep puts 40 watermen to work on the Chesapeake

NF Staff

Oyster dredging. Photo by William Whaley/Maryland DNR photo contest.

In a hard winter, Maryland extends oyster season two weeks

NF Staff

This 21' x 8' New England built skiff is used in the Chesapeake Bay oyster fishery. It is getting a new fiberglass bottom at Jennings Boatyard Inc. in Reedville, Va. Larry Chowning photo.

Larry_Chowning

New England boats as 'icebreakers' in Chesapeake oyster fishery

Larry Chowning

Photo courtesy of North Carolina Sea Grant/The North Carolina Oyster Trail

NOAA-backed grants help expand knowledge on farmed seafood

NF Staff

Portions of the areas within the red circles of the productive shellfish habitat in greater Boston Harbor (shown in yellow) now meet water quality standards to allow direct harvest of shellfish for the first time in 100 years.

Boston Harbor shellfishing poised to reopen after a century

NF Staff

After a 5-year moratorium, the state of Florida plans to reopen the Apalachicola Bay oyster fishery on Jan. 1, 2026. Harvesters will be allowed to harvest one bag a day (60 pounds) from reefs in the bay that meet the ecological threshold of 400 legal-size

Return of the Apalachicola Oyster

Paul Molyneaux