Inaugural Inland Bays Oyster Week Set for August 5-10
Event promotes “Inland Bays Oysters… A Southern Delaware Delicacy”
Over a decade of efforts to bring locally grown oysters to raw bars and dinner tables in Delaware’s coastal resort area is being celebrated from Monday, August 5 through Saturday, August 10 during the first-ever Inland Bays Oyster Week (IBOW24).
Organized and sponsored by Delaware Sea Grant at the University of Delaware and Southern Delaware Tourism, IBOW24 will feature on-water tours, educational seminars, oyster hatchery visits and social activities, including a special evening of “Arts on the Half-shell” at the Delaware Center for the Inland Bays. The culmination of IBOW24 will be the inaugural Delaware Seafood Festival being held in Millsboro, DE on Saturday, August 10.
Ed Lewandowski, a Community & Economic Development Specialist at Delaware Sea Grant and coordinator of IBOW24, touted the local shellfish aquaculture industry and the growers who have invested their time and resources to produce Inland Bays oysters. “Farming anywhere is not an easy proposition, but growing a living organism in a marine environment can be especially challenging,” Lewandowski said. “If you have not yet tasted an oyster from Rehoboth Bay or Indian River Bay, I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised when you do. Personally, I’ve enjoyed oysters from Europe to the West Coast and those coming from the Inland Bays are some of the most delicious around! I’ve heard countless others tell me the same thing.”
Mark Casey, President of the Delaware Aquaculture Association, expressed his gratitude for the past ten years of public support. “I want to thank everyone that asks for Delaware Inland Bays aquaculture oysters,” said Casey. “We continue to have one of the best tasting oysters anywhere and our local farmers appreciate your patronage!”
At the Delaware Center for the Inland Bays, an “Arts on the Half-Shell” event will feature Chef Hari Cameron, Culinary Director for The Chef’s Table at Touch of Italy, who will be joined by a lineup of area chefs, including Chef Sean Corea of Lewes Oyster House, Chef Ted Deptula, Culinary Director of La Vida Hospitality, and Chef Billy Lucas of Taco Reho. Together, they will create an array of delectable small plates featuring oysters fresh from the Inland Bays. The evening will also feature a signature gin-based cocktail crafted especially for Inland Bays Oyster Week.
In addition, Baltimore-based artist Sherry Insley will present portions of two exhibits, also on display at the Center office throughout August. Blue Hens is a series of mixed media cyanotype collages on watercolor paper, inspired by found plants, natural objects, and seaweed from the James Farm Ecological Preserve, as well as images of Inland Bays oyster shells. Ghost Forest is an ongoing exploration using photographic and light-sensitive materials to depict the subtle effects of rising salinity, coastal erosion, and climate change.
According to Mark Carter, Director of Development for the Center for the Inland Bays, "The Center is excited to see a full week dedicated to our Inland Bays oysters and all the benefits, both environmentally and economically, they bring to the table here in our watershed. We are happy to celebrate this week with the opportunity to showcase Crassostrea virginica through the culinary and visual arts at our "Arts on the Half-Shell' event here at our headquarters."
Dave Green, owner/operator of Cape Water Tours and Taxi, is excited about involvement in IBOW24. “We’ve been anxiously awaiting the opportunity to again host the Inland Bays Oyster Experience,” said Green. “We had a sold-out trip the last time we scheduled this very popular tour and expect the same this year.” For more information about the August 6 tour or to reserve your seat, please visit Cape Water Tours and Taxi at https://www.capewatertaxi.com/narrated-tours/inland-bays-oyster-experience/
For those wishing to learn about the biology of these tasty bivalves and the science behind growing them, the University of Delaware will be hosting both an educational seminar and a group tour of its new pilot-scale oyster hatchery at the Sharp Campus in Lewes. Dr. Ed Hale, Assistant Professor and Fisheries/Aquaculture Specialist, is pleased to open the hatchery for tours to the public. “UD is on the front-line of supporting the Inland Bays oyster industry and this small-scall hatchery aims to help satisfy some of the needs of our local grower,” Hale said. The hatchery tour is limited to 15 persons, so please reserve your spot at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/oyster-hatchery-tour-tickets-949050945927
Interested in tasting local oysters paired with an adult beverage while chatting with oyster growers? Big Oyster Brewery in Milford will host a “Sip ‘n Slurp/Meet the Grower” happy hour on Monday, August 5 from 3 p.m. until 6 p.m. featuring delectable Nancy James Oysters (Rehoboth Bay). The following day, Lewes Oyster House joins the fun with a “Wine ‘n Brine/Meet the Grower” happy hour from 3 p.m. until 5 p.m. that will offer fresh Arrowhead Point Oysters (Rehoboth Bay).
The Delaware Seafood Festival on Saturday, August 10 from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. will be the perfect way to wrap up IBOW24. Paul Seibert, co-founder and one of the organizers of the festival said, “We are thrilled to bring the Delaware Seafood Festival to Millsboro, DE and excited to feature oysters on the menu and add an oyster shucking contest to the day’s events!”
The rundown of all the IBOW24 events is as follows:
Sip ‘n Slurp/Meet the Grower
When: Monday, August 5 from 3 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Ages: Must be 21 or over, please
Location: Big Oyster Brewery (Milford) 6152 South Rehoboth Blvd, Milford, DE 19963
Enjoy a taste of a “Southern Delaware Delicacy” featuring Nancy James Oysters (Rehoboth Bay) and learn more about aquaculture operations from owner/grower Jordan Nally.
Inland Bays Oyster Experience - Examining Local Shellfish Aquaculture
When: Tuesday, August 6 @10:30 a.m.
Departs: 511 Rehoboth Ave, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971
Duration: 1.5 hours
Ages: All ages
Location: 511 Rehoboth Ave, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971
Price: $14 per person
Delaware’s new shellfish aquaculture industry is off to a strong start with both oysters and clams now being grown in the Inland Bays. In partnership with Delaware Sea Grant and in celebration of “Inland Bays Oyster Week,” Cape Water Tours and Taxi is proud to present this eco tour, which will feature a visit to one of the open-water shellfish lease areas in Rehoboth Bay where participants will have a chance to learn about the process of growing these tasty bivalves from seed to market. Dr. Dennis McIntosh, a Delaware State University faculty member and Delaware Sea Grant aquaculture specialist, will explain some of the ecological services provided by a robust aquaculture industry and share information about where the public can purchase local oysters for their own enjoyment.
The Inland Bays Oyster Experience | Cape Water Tours & Taxi (capewatertaxi.com)
Wine ‘n Brine/Meet the Grower
When: Tuesday, August 6 from 3 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Ages: Must be 21 or over, please
Location: Lewes Oyster House- 108 2nd St, Lewes, DE
Price: No cost to attend. Happy Hour menu available for purchase.
The Lewes Oyster House Happy Hour menu will be available featuring Arrowhead Point Oysters (Rehoboth Bay) and perfectly paired wines by the glass. Enjoy a taste of a “Southern Delaware Delicacy” and learn more about aquaculture operations from oyster growers Alan Davis and Chad Heers. Visit the Lewes Oyster House website for more details.
The Science of Aquaculture
When: Wednesday, August 7 from 1 p.m. – 2 p.m.
Ages: All ages
Location: Cannon Lab, Room 203, University of Delaware/Sharp Campus, 700 Pilottown Road, Lewes, DE
How much water can a single oyster filter? Why are oysters so important to the environment? Join Dr. Ed Hale, University of Delaware Assistant Professor and Delaware Sea Grant Aquaculture/Fisheries Specialist, for an informative look at the how’s and why’s behind oysters and Inland Bays aquaculture, which will include a brief history of the origins of this local industry.
Oyster Hatchery Tour
When: Wednesday, August 7 from 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Ages: All ages
Location: Cannon Lab, University of Delaware/Sharp Campus, 700 Pilottown Road, Lewes, DE
Reservation required: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/oyster-hatchery-tour-tickets-949050945927
In 2023, Delaware Sea Grant began operating the first oyster hatchery in the state of Delaware aimed at serving research, industry and restoration purposes alike. In early July, the hatchery sent 200 bags of shell with roughly 105,000 oyster spat—or baby oysters—to a commercial aquaculture operation in the Delaware Bay using larvae that the pilot hatchery produced. Join Alyssa Campbell, Laboratory Coordinator of the Oyster Hatchery, for a tour of this pilot-scale operation and learn what it takes to spawn oysters and grow them to “seed” size for distribution to local aquaculture operations. Limited to 15 participants, so reservation required using the EventBrite link.
Arts on the Half-Shell
When: Thursday, August 8 from 6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Ages: Must be 21 or over, please
Location: Delaware Center for the Inland Bays, 39375 Inlet Road, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971
Price: $150 per ticket
Celebrate Delaware Inland Bays Oyster Week with an unforgettable evening of culinary and visual arts inspired by the oyster, set against the backdrop of our office overlooking the beautiful Indian River Bay. Chef Hari Cameron, Culinary Director for The Chef’s Table at Touch of Italy, will be joined by a lineup of area chefs, including Chef Sean Corea of Lewes Oyster House, Chef Ted Deptula, Culinary Director of La Vida Hospitality, and Chef Billy Lucas of Taco Reho. Together, they will create an array of delectable small plates featuring oysters fresh from the Inland Bays. The evening will also feature a signature gin-based cocktail crafted especially for Inland Bays Oyster Week. Baltimore-based artist Sherry Insley will present portions of two exhibits, also on display at the Center office throughout August.
Included with Your Ticket:
Intimate conversations with the artist and chefs
Delicious food and an open bar
A breathtaking sunset over the bay
A chance to win an original framed piece by Sherry Insley
All proceeds from the event will support the James Farm Ecological Preserve education campus project.
Link to purchase tickets: https://inlandbays.harnessgiving.org/events/1952
Delaware Seafood Festival
When: Saturday, August 10 from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m.
Ages: All Ages
Location: 31767 Legion Rd., Millsboro, DE 19966
Bring your family and friends for a day of seafood delights and family fun. Indulge in crab cakes, steamed crabs, shrimp, both raw and grilled oysters and more while enjoying live music. Cheer on participants in the signature oyster shucking contest. A portion of proceeds will support the American Legion Post 28. Come make memories at this inaugural event! Purchase a ticket at Delaware Seafood Festival.