The Chesapeake Bay Foundation rated the health of the Chesapeake a D-plus for 2020.
Among the reasons for the low grade: the plummeting score assigned to the status of the rockfish, or striped bass. That number in the fisheries category dropped 17 points.
William Baker, president of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, blamed part of the problems on “ineffective management of striped bass.”
Chris Moore, a senior scientist with CBF, said, “Rockfish, often called striped bass here in the Chesapeake Bay region, are arguably the most important recreational and commercial fin fish we have in the Chesapeake Bay.”
Blue crabs did well, according to the report, with a 60 out of 100. That puts the blue crabs at a B+. Protection of the population of adult female crabs should be a focus of fishery managers, the report said.
Oysters, long a focus of restoration efforts in the Chesapeake Bay, got a grade of F. The report cites overharvesting, an argument that has generated debate in Annapolis. The report says “regulations implemented in Maryland have failed to reduce fishing rates or resolve overfishing.”
MJM says
The CBF doesn’t get it. WE’RE NOT LISTENING. Well, I can’t speak for anyone else, but I’m not listening. They have lost all credibility and do not stand for the restoration or support of anything but themselves. We are all the sum of our parts. The leaders of the CBF have verbalized and demonstrated their support for the likes of Jay C. Ford and their cancel culture chaos. So that is who they are. They support progressive agendas that breed more dependence on government and donations. They do not want solutions to any problems. They simply wish to shout fear to the nth degree and tell us all how much we need them. HOGWASH. They release flowery stories of hopes and dreams in their press releases while telling us we are burning down the very foundations of The Chesapeake Bay with our selfish ways. This is their rallying cry in order to load us with guilt so we send them money so they send their kids to Dartmouth and Yale for an overpriced education on a video screen that’s only valuable in a world of academia or government to continue their cycle of balderdash. They don’t really do anything except ride around in boats and take surveys to be able to write more stories of how much we all do wrong and need to send them more money. Get a job.
Scotiagirl says
As a concerned “come here”, with a background that is defined by the ocean, Scotiagirl gave a sizeable donation to the CBF when first she arrived to the Shore. She did this out of respect for her own lineage of fishermen, lobstermen, crabbers, boat builders, some of whom went to the sea and never came back. She felt good that she was able to contribute in what seemed to be a meaningful way (Save the Bay, right?). Then she began to receive truck loads of literature, banners, bumper stickers, videos, calendars, letters and requests for even more money, even suggestions that she create an endowment (should she fall out of a boat and meet an unfortunate end perhaps)
Money fixes EVERYTHING, right? Well, the CBF can look elsewhere. Scotiagirl’s checkbook is closed.
MJM says
OMG !! They actually had the —– to suggest you set up an endowment. Well we have certainly hit the nail on the head with those clowns. The swamp. It’s loaded with quicksand. They were beckoning you to stick your toes in the sand, but please just leave us your checkbook before you discover it’s pulling you in and over your head. Too bad we don’t all have the ability to leave a FAT ENDOWMENT to Wayne. He could buy 500 servers and be the next Parler.