Welcome!
As one of the largest oyster hatcheries on the East Coast, the Horn Point Oyster Hatchery produces a variety of oyster larvae for use in oyster research, oyster restoration, and educational projects. Over the past decade, spawning oysters at the Horn Point Lab Oyster Hatchery have resulted in the deployment of over one billion oyster spat to the waters of the Chesapeake Bay in the hopes of slowing the Chesapeake Bay oyster decline and restoring the health of the Bay. The Horn Point Oyster Hatchery is part of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science.
About the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science
The University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science leads the way toward better management of Maryland’s natural resources and the protection and restoration of the Chesapeake Bay. From a network of laboratories located across the state, our scientists provide sound advice to help state and national leaders manage the environment and prepare future scientists to meet the global challenges of the 21st century.
Oyster Importance
Oysters are an important component of the living ecosystem of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. They help protect shorelines from erosion and are important on both an ecological and an economical level.
Oyster Importance
Oysters are an important component of the living ecosystem of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. They help protect shorelines from erosion and are important on both an ecological and an economical level.
Our Facilities
The Horn Point Oyster Hatchery is a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to oyster production, research, and education. The centerpieces of our facility include our Aquaculture and Restoration Ecology Lab (AREL) and our Setting Pier. We moved into AREL in 2004 and began using it for production in 2005, replacing our old hatchery which had been in operation since 1974. The new Setting Pier was dedicated in 2010 and first used for production in 2011. Both facilities have allowed us to greatly increase our oyster production and restoration efforts.
Our Staff
We have a small but dedicated group of staff working towards oyster restoration and education. We work in partnership with…
Our Staff
We have a small but dedicated group of staff working towards oyster restoration and education. We work in partnership with…
Oysters are filter feeders and as the “vacuum cleaners” of the Chesapeake Bay a single healthy oyster can filter 50 gallons of water a day. Imagine the cleaning power of an entire oyster reef!
Are you in need of oysters?
Schedule a Tour!
We offer weekday tours of the oyster hatchery during the spawning season, which runs from March through September. Tour groups during the season may have the opportunity to see oysters spawn, baby oyster larvae, and see a working production facility giving the best experience possible. Tours are open to kids of all ages- from preschool on up and usually last 30-60 minutes. If you are interested in a hatchery tour, please contact Stephanie Alexander at tobash@umces.edu or at 410-221-8310.
