Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley recently signed into law legislation that amends Maryland’s forest conservation policy to maintain the State’s current 40 percent tree canopy. The bill establishes new and expanded reforestation incentives and tools to help landowners and local governments meet and surpass the statewide goal. In addition to no-net-loss requirements, Maryland’s Forest Preservation Act [...]
The 3th annual MSSA Championship on the Chesapeake striped bass tournament, which concluded May 5th, attracted 470 boats and nearly 3,500 anglers. The annual event brings in anglers from all over the Mid Atlantic to compete for nearly $200,000 in cash and prizes. The overall Champion for 2013 is Chris Long from Avenue, Maryland. Long [...]
The U.S. Geological Survey has released an analysis of the Watts Branch of the Anacostia River that documents how restoration work on this urban tributary has had a substantial impact on the local economy. According to the survey, the restored tributary indirectly accounts for 45 jobs, $2.6 million in local labor income and $3.4 million [...]
A group of Chesapeake Bay researchers have published a groundbreaking study in April’s issue of the Marine Ecology Progress Series Journal with findings that indicate restored oyster reefs could have greater impacts on estuarine water quality than previously thought, refining our understanding of the role that restored oyster reefs play in removing excess nutrients from [...]
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Fisheries Service recently announced that the agency is making a significant management change to the commercial Chesapeake Bay Striped Bass fishery. According to MD DNR, the system will comply with new Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission requirements. Regulatory changes are the result of extensive meetings with the Tidal [...]
Overall abundance of Chesapeake Bay blue crabs dropped from 765 million to 300 million crabs, according to the 2013 Blue Crab Winter Dredge Survey. Juvenile crabs declined from 581 million to 111 million. The number of spawning-age females increased from 95 million to 147 million, well above the healthy-abundance threshold of 70 million. Officials cite [...]
New oyster shell recycling legislation has been passed by both the Maryland Senate and House of Delegates. The legislation will provide a tax credit for those individuals and businesses who help to grow the Chesapeake Bay’s oyster population by recycling used oyster shells. The bill was sponsored by Delegate Stephen W. Lafferty, (Democrat District 42 [...]
Results of Maryland’s 2012 Fall Oyster Survey show that oyster population and reproduction increased for the second consecutive year, and diseases, which decimated the oyster population in 2002, remained far below their long-term averages. Maryland has monitored the status of the State’s oyster population through annual field surveys since 1939. The survey tracks reproduction levels, [...]
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recently released recreational summer flounder regulations for the 2013 fishing season. Recreational anglers may keep up to 4 summer flounder per person per day. The minimum size for summer flounder is 16 inches in all Maryland state waters. The commercial hook and line minimum size is also 16 [...]
As part of its H2O Initiative, the Chesapeake Bay Roasting Company recently partnered with the Chesapeake Bay Trust to co-fund two projects. CBRC’s H2O Initiative is a community-based outreach program through which the company pledges 2 percent of gross sales to restore and protect the Chesapeake Bay while encouraging community involvement through funding, education, volunteerism [...]