National Oyster Cook-off 2013

The National Oyster Cook-off was held on October 19 in Leonardtown, Maryland. The annual event is held in conjunction with the St. Mary’s Oyster Festival and the U.S. National Oyster Shucking Championship. More than 15,000 visitors attended the two-day festival which featured rows of vendors offering oyster fare and oyster-themed items.

Fifty chefs from as far away as Oregon entered recipes for consideration in the contest, open to cooks of all skill levels. Of those, nine were selected to attend the St. Mary’s County Oyster Festival, where they competed before a panel of judges.

The judges picked one winner in each of the three categories - hors d’oeuvre, soup/stew and main dish - based on taste and creativity. Reynolds won the overall prize of $1,000, an engraved silver tray and the national title. The other category winners took home cash prizes, ranging from $150 to $300.

Debbie Reynolds of Waldorf took took first place in the main dish category and won the overall grand prize with her Oyster and Chipotle Grits recipe.

Marty Hyson of Millersville won the hors d’oeuvre honor with his Grilled Oyster Reggiano. Winning both soup/stew and People’s Choice was Robert Johnson of Bushwood with his Merchant Mariner Oyster Rockefeller Chowder. Ronna Farley of Rockville earned the Best Presentation Award with her Crispy Oyster and Red Pepper Salsa Bruschetta.

The Oyster Cook-off is sponsored by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Seafood Marketing Program, the Rotary Club of Lexington Park and the St. Mary’s County Department of Economic Development. Proceeds from the event go to local charities, educational scholarships, assistance grants, and Rotary International projects.

For more information on the National Oyster Cook-off, visit www.usoysterfest.com.

source: MD DNR

Chesapeake Bay Blue Crab Abundance

According to a recent study, Chesapeake Bay blue crab harvests could be down in 2013. The latest Chesapeake Bay winter dredge survey, overall abundance of blue crabs dropped from 765 million to 300 million crabs.

Juvenile crab counts fell from 581 million to 111 million. The female population was estimated at 147 million, well above the minimum established threshold of 70 million.

Poor reproduction in 2013 and high mortality among 2012 year-class crabs may have led to the decline of blue crabs in the Chesapeake Bay.

Maryland, Virginia, and the Potomac River Fisheries Commission (PRFC) said to be drafting new regulations that will reduce the harvest of female crabs by approximately 10 percent in response to the decline.

The Chesapeake Bay Blue Crab Winter Dredge Survey samples blue crab numbers at 1,500 sites throughout the Chesapeake Bay.

source: Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Virginia Marine Resources Commission

Maryland Seafood Marketing Logo Contest Winner

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recently unveiled the new logo for its Seafood Marketing Program. The winning design, created by John Snyder of Baltimore, will be used to in seafood marketing promotions throughout the State.

Earlier this summer, DNR’s Seafood Marketing Program held a logo contest in search of a new emblem that would showcase the Chesapeake Bay’s bounty. The Seafood Marketing Advisory Commission, responsible for choosing a winner, decided on Snyder’s design from the more than 75 submissions.

Snyder and four of his friends will enjoy a Chesapeake Bay Charter trip where they will choose to harvest one three types of Maryland seafood: blue crab, striped bass, or oyster.

source: Maryland Department of Natural Resources

2011 Maryland Seafood Festivals

Oysters

Dozens of seafood festivals are held throughout Maryland each summer, continuing into November. Maryland seafood festivals vary in size and diversity, occurring in Annapolis, Leonardtown, Crisfield, Havre De Grace, Solomons Island, and other locations.

Several Maryland festivals specialize in certain seafood such as crabs, oysters, or fish, while others have a taste of it all. Festivals include entertainment and educational activities for the entire family.

Of interest to many seafood enthusiasts are festivals that host to cooking contests. The National Hard Crab Derby and Fair plays host to the Annual Crab Cooking Contest, the Maryland Seafood Festival boasts the Crab Soup Challenge, and the St. Mary’s County Oyster Festival is the home of the National Oyster Cook-off.

A list of Maryland Seafood Festivals is available by sending a self-addressed stamped envelope to:

Maryland Department of Agriculture, Seafood Marketing Program
50 Harry S. Truman Parkway
Annapolis, Maryland 21401.

Festival contacts should be contacted directly for information on individual events.

Included in the list is a directory of fee fishing farms where anglers can catch their own fish.

source: Maryland Department of Agriculture

Celebration of Maryland Seafood in Annapolis MD

The Maryland Department of Agriculture and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources will be co-hosting a “Celebration of Maryland Seafood” at the Boatyard Bar & Grill in Annapolis on Tuesday, Feb. 22 from 6 p.m. until 10 p.m.

The purpose of the dinner is to promote Maryland’s diverse and high quality seafood from the Chesapeake Bay, Atlantic Coast and aquaculture industry through local restaurants,  grocers and other retail markets. By empowering the local seafood market, Maryland is building a sustainable fishery, reducing the industry’s carbon footprint and creating green jobs.

The evening includes a cocktail hour with raw bar and five-course meal featuring Maryland oysters, crabmeat, striped bass (rockfish) and yellow perch.

The event is hosted by the Boatyard Bar & Grill, Maryland Department of Agriculture and Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Agriculture Secretary Buddy Hance and Natural Resources Secretary  John Griffin will be featured speakers.

Tickets are $40, which includes all food, tax and gratuity, and will be limited to the first 125 to reserve their spot. Call the Boatyard Bar & Grill at 410-216-6206 to RSVP and for more information.

source: Maryland Department of Agriculture