An operational analysis of shell planting strategies for improving the survival of oyster larvae in the chesapeake bay

Maryland’s oyster fishery has declined dramatically since 1930. Meanwhile, recent studies have shown that careful management of the shell planting process can lead to increased oyster yields. This is due to the fact that oyster larvae that attach to fossil shells at the bottom of the Chesapeake Bay have a greatly enhanced likelihood of survival. In this paper, the authors indicate how linear programming and a rule-based heuristic can be used in tandem to determine effective sites and schedules for shell planting. In particular, linear programming is used to address the macro problem of deciding where to plant the shells, subject to high-level constraints. The rule-based heuristic addresses the micro problem of scheduling tugboats, barges, and the planting crew, subject to more detailed constraints.