Population dynamics of eastern oysters in the Choptank River Complex, Maryland during 1989–2015

•This study represents the first stock assessment that includes Maryland’s largest oyster sanctuaries.•Natural mortality of oysters in the CRC has been at an all-time low since MSX and Dermo outbreaks during the early 2000s.•Rates of exploitation during years of high abundance were twice the upper limit of the rate that would produce MSY.