In February 2025, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recognized Thomas Dembeck Jr. of Hydes as the new state record holder for yellow perch (Perca flavescens) in the Chesapeake division. Dembeck caught the 2.3-pound, 16-inch fish on February 7 … Continued
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is launching two pilot programs in coordination with its Invasive Catfish Advisory Committee aimed at curbing the spread of blue catfish in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. Applications are now open for … Continued
Aerial survey teams of pilots and biologists from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) have completed their annual population estimates of ducks, geese, and swans along the state’s Chesapeake Bay, tidal Potomac … Continued
A new study by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) confirms the negative impact northern snakeheads have on other fish and the ecosystem. A comparison of fish communities in the Blackwater River drainage near Cambridge before and after the … Continued
A winter outbreak of avian influenza in the Chesapeake Bay watershed has potential to harm wildlife, disrupt business, and limit outdoor activities in the region. On December 28, 2024, the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) and … Continued
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has selected the next three sites for large-scale oyster restoration in Maryland waters of the Chesapeake Bay, marking the beginning of the state’s next phase of major oyster restoration. DNR will conduct oyster … Continued
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) estimates that over 430,000 bushels of oysters were harvested commercially in Maryland from October 1, 2023, through March 31, 2024. This was the fifth season in the past 30 years when the harvest … Continued
Abundance of submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) remained steady in 2023 in the state’s portion of Chesapeake Bay, reaching 37,770 acres, according to recently released data by the Chesapeake Bay Program and Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Surveys indicate a … Continued
During the 2024 spring spawning season, thousands of invasive fish were removed from the Chesapeake Bay watershed at the Conowingo Dam and donated to local food banks through a continuing partnership between Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Conowingo Dam … Continued
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has announced that it has recommended awarding $10 million to fund new reef construction for a Maryland Department of Natural Resources oyster sanctuary in the Chesapeake Bay. The four-year grant will provide infrastructure funding … Continued