CHESAPEAKE BAY >
Oyster aquaculture
BY ALEXA ZIZZI WHAT’S NEW Chesapeake Bay on the
the abundance of adult female blue crabs in the Bay increased from 141 million to 158 million,” reports CBF. This jump gives a boost to the Bay’s wildlife habitats. To celebrate the success of reef restoration initiatives and the return of a healthy wildlife population, CBF will host the Maryland Rod & Reef Slam in October. This unique fishing tournament awards the biggest catch like traditional tournaments, but also focuses on finding as many species as you can. Prizes go to anglers with the most different species first, then for how long the fish measure.
BAY HEALTH UPDATES & PROGRESS
A BRIGHT FUTURE AHEAD FOR THE BAY
Chesapeake oyster lovers have a reason to cheer this summer as the region’s oyster population reached its highest level in 35 years. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) recently chose 10 sites for large-scale oyster reef restoration in Maryland and Virginia, aiming to improve tributaries by 2025. Even though the male blue crab population was down last year, causing prices to go up, the female crab population increased. According to the 2021 Bay Barometer, “Between 2020 and 2021,
To have a healthy aquaculture requires maintaining a pollution-free ecosystem. CBF pioneers marine cleanup partner- ships between state and local governments and conservation groups, and it’s crucial to implementing clean water coalitions. This past winter, Congress signed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) containing a $238 million increase over five years for CBF. Funding was also granted through the EPA for the Clean Water State Revolving
102
marinalife.com
Made with FlippingBook Annual report maker