The Maryland Agricultural and Resource-Based Industry Development Corporation (MARBIDCO) announced today that it will provide zero-interest disaster relief loans to eligible commercial oyster harvesters through the newly established Maryland Commercial Oyster Harvester Disaster Relief Loans.
Maryland commercial oyster harvesters faced severe disruption this winter from a confluence of factors that included: a nationwide Salmonella outbreak in late 2025 that scared off oyster buyers and consumers; a freeze of the Chesapeake Bay in January 2026 which prevented harvesting; the Potomac River sewage spill which created negative public perception about seafood safety; and the Gulf of Mexico oyster beds reopening after oil spill recovery, flooding the national market with competing oyster products.
According to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), in late February, oyster harvests had declined by 44%, while the dockside value of oysters had dropped by 66%. The wild oyster harvesting season ended on April 14th.
Recognizing the economic distress faced by Maryland’s commercial oyster harvesters, the Maryland General Assembly passed Senate Bill 558/House Bill 1599 to establish the Maryland Seafood Industry Financial Assistance Fund under MARBIDCO and appropriated $2 million in the FY 2027 State Budget for this. Governor Wes Moore signed the legislation into law on May 12, 2026. MARBIDCO is providing an additional $1 million in temporary funding to augment the pool of disaster lending capital being made available to the eligible watermen.
The fund allows MARBIDCO to offer zero-interest disaster relief loans to eligible Maryland commercial oyster harvesters to cover personal and business expenses and revenue losses related to oyster harvesting. All borrowers will receive the same loan amount, which will be determined by dividing the available funding by the number of applications received by the established deadline. The minimum loan amount is expected to be about $4,000, but depending on the level of participation, loans could range up to a ceiling of $10,000.
To be eligible, a commercial oyster harvester must:
- Must be a Maryland resident and hold a valid Tidal Fisheries License (TFL) from the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) or Potomac River Fisheries Commission (PRFC) Commercial License for oyster harvesting.
- Must have paid all applicable surcharges or fees to DNR or the PRFC to harvest oysters between October 2025 and April 2026.
- Must have harvested oysters during the 2025-2026 season, as demonstrated on harvest reports.
- Must have submitted all required oyster harvest reports to the DNR or PRFC, as verified by these agencies, by the deadline required by these agencies.
To apply: Email completed applications to oysterloans@marbidco.org by the close of business on June 12, 2026. Electronic submission of applications is preferred.
Mailed applications will also be accepted. Please mail completed applications, postmarked no later than June 8, 2026, to MARBIDCO, c/o Oyster Relief Loans, 1410 Forest Drive, Suite 21, Annapolis, Maryland 21403.
The disaster loan funding will become available for distribution beginning in early July.
For more information about this program, please visit www.marbidco.org, call 410-267-6807, or email oysterloans@marbidco.org.
