BALTIMORE, MD—The Chesapeake Bay blue crab population has fallen to its second-lowest level in history, according to a new survey, raising concerns about the health of the iconic species. The joint survey, conducted by the Virginia Institute of Marine Science and Maryland Department of Natural Resources, found an estimated 238 million blue crabs in 2025, just shy of the all-time […]
BALTIMORE, MD—Maryland’s oyster population has more than tripled since 2005, reaching over 12 billion oysters in 2024, according to a new report. The positive assessment is attributed to a combination of factors, including large-scale restoration efforts, favorable environmental conditions, and harvest restrictions. The latest benchmark stock assessment, released this week by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and the University […]
MIDDLE RIVER, MD—The Chesapeake Bay Foundation and several Baltimore County residents have filed a lawsuit against the developers of a 53-acre property in Middle River, alleging violations of sediment and erosion control rules. The lawsuit, filed on March 20 in the Circuit Court for Baltimore County against Eastern Boulevard LLC and TKG III Middle River LLC, seeks to halt construction […]
ANNAPOLIS, MD—Maryland lawmakers enjoyed fresh, local oysters on Lawyer’s Mall in Annapolis on March 18 as Chesapeake Bay advocates and oyster growers demonstrated the importance of funding for oyster restoration and Chesapeake Bay cleanup. Dozens of lawmakers and Moore administration members relished raw and roasted oysters farmed by Maryland aquaculture businesses across the state, including Dorchester and St. Mary’s Counties. […]
BALTIMORE, MD—A bipartisan coalition of lawmakers from the Chesapeake Bay region reintroduced legislation this week to support farmers adopting conservation practices that will improve water quality in the Bay and its tributaries. The Chesapeake Bay Conservation Acceleration Act proposes five changes to the next Farm Bill to encourage farmers to implement voluntary conservation practices. The Chesapeake Bay Task Force Co-chairs […]
BALTIMORE, MD—Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has announced five watershed projects that will be part of the state’s Whole Watershed Act pilot program. The five-year program will implement restoration projects in the Antietam Creek in Washington County, the Baltimore Harbor, Newport Bay in Worcester County, the Severn River near Annapolis, and the Upper Choptank River on the Eastern Shore. […]
BALTIMORE, MD—The Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s Maryland Advocacy Director Alan Girard has been elected as the Chair of the Delmarva Land and Litter Collaborative (DLLC) for 2025. The DLLC is a group of diverse stakeholders working to address pollution from chicken litter in the Chesapeake Bay region. Chicken farming has been integral to Delmarva Peninsula culture for a century. Chicken litter, […]
ANNAPOLIS, MD—Maryland Governor Wes Moore has announced his administration’s support for the Chesapeake Bay Legacy Act, a legislative package aimed at protecting and restoring the Chesapeake Bay. The bill represents a key component of the Moore-Miller administration’s environmental priorities for the 2025 General Assembly. The legislation builds upon existing efforts to improve the Bay’s water quality by introducing comprehensive changes […]