Press Release

CBF Applauds Precautionary Measure for Struggling and Essential Blue Crab

In a significant reversal, Virginia state regulators Tuesday killed the possibility of opening the blue crab winter harvest for the upcoming 2024/2025 season. 

The 4-1 vote by the Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC) Tuesday approved a month-long public comment period that will solely consider keeping the 16-year ban on the winter blue crab harvest. Because regulators can’t vote on anything more permissive than what they asked the public to consider, the Tuesday vote ends the prospect of reopening the winter blue crab season for the upcoming season. At their October meeting, the VMRC will entertain potential modifications of the previously adopted crab pot season including a possible December extension and earlier opening next March. 

The vote Tuesday comes after months of criticism within Virginia and Maryland on VMRC’s previous decision to lift the restriction on the winter blue crab harvest. In June, despite their staff’s opposition, VMRC voted 5-4 to remove the prohibition on the winter dredge season, possibly subjecting the vulnerable keystone species to additional harvest over the winter months. 

The winter dredge fishery primarily targets female crabs, which are key to maintaining a strong blue crab population.  It involves scraping crabs using dredges, large, metal, rake-like structures, from the bottom of the Chesapeake Bay where they lie semi-dormant through the winter. Declines in the blue crab population led to a fishery disaster declaration in 2008. That year, closing the winter dredge fishery became one of numerous Chesapeake Bay–wide conservation measures enacted to address the disaster.

As a result, the crabbing season currently runs from mid-March through the middle of December in Virginia. 

Female blue crab numbers declined by nearly 20 million in the recent annual estimate of blue crab numbers in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. In 2024, according to the survey, the adult female crab population decreased to 133 million compared with 152 million last year. This figure falls far below the target of 215 million adult female crabs needed for a healthy population and sustainable harvest in the Chesapeake Bay.  

An ongoing stock assessment, a scientific study expected to shed new light on the factors affecting the Bay’s blue crab population, is expected in March 2026. 

Chesapeake Bay Foundation Virginia Executive Director Chris Moore and member of VMRC’s Crab Management Advisory Committee released the following statement:  

“I am delighted the Commission followed the advice of its crab management advisory committee  and will not consider opening a winter dredge fishery this season.  The advisory committee identified numerous concerns about reopening such a fishery at this time.” 

“VMRC’s decision is a significant step toward a brighter future for the Bay’s blue crab population and helps ensure we have the best available science when making important decisions about Virginia’s blue crab fishery. This decision allows the scientific stock assessment of the many factors affecting the blue crab population to proceed without significant changes occurring in the fishery at the same time, paving the way for sound evidence-based management decisions of this essential species in the future. We applaud this vote.” 

Anglers reeled in 31 unique Chesapeake Bay species during the event

Anglers and Chesapeake Bay supporters had much to celebrate on Sunday, September 15, at the 2024 Maryland Rod & Reef Slam fishing tournament’s closing ceremony at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s Philip Merrill Center in Annapolis. During the tournament, 32 anglers reeled in more than 120 fish, including 31 different species.

Co-hosted by Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF), Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) Maryland, and Chesapeake Oyster Alliance (COA), the Maryland Rod & Reef Slam is one of the most unique fishing tournaments in the Chesapeake Bay region. Anglers are challenged to catch the largest diversity of fish species, rather than just the most or largest fish. Participants also must fish around restored oyster sanctuary reefs to demonstrate the immense habitat and biodiversity the reefs support.

“Fish love oyster reefs and anglers do too,” said Allison Colden, CBF’s Maryland Executive Director. “Not only do oysters filter the water, but their reefs make exceptional habitat for hundreds of aquatic species. A win-win for our slam champions, and the Bay.”

The most frequently caught fish during the tournament were spot and Atlantic croaker. Some of the most unusual catches included pufferfish, cutlassfish, kingfish, spotted sea trout, and pigfish.

The tournament ran from September 7 through September 15. The winners of each division include:

• Grand prize: Herb Floyd, of Trappe, who caught a total of 15 species.
• Powerboat: First place went to Chris Morgan with 11 species, second place to Chris Derr with eight species, and third place to James Traxel with five species.
• Kayak: Ronnie Kirin and Jeff Luoma tied with six species each. After a tie breaker determined by fish length, Ronnie took home first place.
• Youth: First place went to David Rogers with nine species, second place to Parker Barniea with seven species, and third place to Parker Corson with six species.
• Invasive species: Parker Corson of the youth division took first place with an impressive snakehead.

Winners were announced at an award ceremony and after party held at CBF’s Philip Merrill Center in Annapolis. The champions chose from a selection of prizes including a Turtle Box speaker, Toadfish gear, an Engel UltraLite cooler, and more.

“This year’s event proves how habitat today equals fish tomorrow,” said Dave Sikorski, CCA Maryland Executive Director. “The diversity of life on restored oyster reefs directly support the success of our fisheries now and into the future, and that’s all the reason we need to continue to build habitat and partnerships throughout the region.”

The Maryland Rod & Reef Slam helps further CBF, CCA, and COA’s missions by supporting oyster sanctuary reefs in the Chesapeake Bay. Oyster reefs filter water quality and provide habitat for dozens of species such as striped bass and blue crab. COA and its partnership of nonprofits, oyster farmers, and academic institutions are committed to adding 10 billion oysters to the Bay by 2025.

Community event hosted dozens of volunteers to install 100 oyster cages and improve water quality in the Baltimore Harbor and Chesapeake Bay

Today, the Great Baltimore Oyster Partnership, made up of Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore (WPB) and Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF), hosted 35 volunteers to install Maryland’s largest public oyster garden at Lighthouse Point Marina, in partnership with marina managers Oasis Experiences. This celebration marked the 12th oyster planting season for the Great Baltimore Oyster Partnership.

“Oysters are important to Baltimore Harbor because they clearly work at cleaning the water,” said Aaron Tsu, a volunteer oyster gardener. “I like oyster gardening for the sense of community and to spread awareness to help clean the Bay.”

Volunteer oyster gardeners play a crucial role in the Partnership and Baltimore’s oyster restoration efforts. At the event, volunteers filled wire cages with baby oysters, called spat, which CBF had set on hundreds of recycled oyster shells. The cages were then hung over the marina docks where they will stay and grow for the next nine months. This process keeps the oysters, which are most vulnerable during their first year of life, elevated from the Harbor’s muddy bottom. Oyster gardeners will continue to check and tend to them throughout the year during monthly cage cleaning events. After nine months, the oysters are planted out on protected oyster sanctuary reefs. 

Once mature, each oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of water a day, making them a vital resource for improving water quality in the Harbor and Bay. Oysters not only improve water quality, but also provide valuable habitat for wildlife and have been shown to increase species diversity by 40-60%.

The Lighthouse Point Marina site is one of several public oyster gardening locations in Baltimore where people can get involved. 

“We call it oyster gardening, but it’s more like oyster fostering,” said Kellie Fiala, Maryland oyster restoration coordinator at CBF. “You don’t have to have a waterfront property to participate. Lighthouse Point Marina and other public oyster gardening locations are accessible and always need extra hands. Thanks to all the volunteers who came out this event to help get us started.”

Since 2013, the Partnership, with the help of more than 5,000 volunteers, has cultivated more than 1.6 million oysters in Baltimore Harbor. In July 2019, the Partnership met its initial goal of planting out five million oysters. 

“These Inner Harbor oyster gardens become home to much more than just oysters,” said Adam Lindquist, vice president of WPB. “Thousands of eels, shrimp, small fish, and crabs have been thriving alongside the spat. This increase in smaller creatures has helped bring larger predators like rockfish and even river otters back to Baltimore.”

Lighthouse Point Marina on the Canton Waterfront was an early supporter of the Partnership, hosting roughly 60 public oyster cages for years. They recently underwent a major renovation and are now expanding oyster gardening operations to reignite the connections they had with the community. 

“We are thrilled to be partnering with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and the Waterfront Partnership to bring the largest oyster garden in the state to Lighthouse Point Marina,” said Joel Schlossberg, general manager of Lighthouse Point Marina. “The oyster garden installation is part of our ongoing commitment to creating a healthier Baltimore Harbor and Chesapeake Bay. The tens of thousands of oysters that will be raised at Lighthouse Point will contribute to the improving health of our waterway for years to come.”

The Great Baltimore Oyster Partnership receives partial funding from the Chesapeake Oyster Alliance (COA). COA and its partnership of nonprofits, oyster farmers, and community organizations are committed to adding 10 billion oysters to the Bay by 2025.

Event Celebrated Oyster Restoration Benefits and Broke Down Barriers to Fishing

More than 60 anglers caught nine different species of fish from the Hampton River during the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s (CBF) Rod and Reef Slam in Hampton Saturday. 

Anglers as young as six years old reeled in flounder, croaker, and sea bass, among other species of fish for four hours Saturday. From the water, a group of kayakers explored the biodiversity of nearby coves. The event celebrated oyster restoration as well as broadened access to fishing on the Hampton River through education.  

“CBF’s Rod and Reef Slam is not your typical fishing event. Size doesn’t matter. The goal is to connect the community with the joys of fishing, how oyster reefs and the biodiversity they cultivate contribute to great angling, and the importance of clean, local waterways,” CBF Virginia Executive Director Chris Moore said. 

Oyster reefs are essential to the health of the Chesapeake Bay, filtering water and, in great news for anglers, providing habitat for a variety of fish like striped bass, sea trout, as well as the Bay’s iconic blue crab. On Saturday, anglers of all ages and skill levels learned the basics of angling or refined their techniques with expert CBF staff. 

Cameron Harris, a freshman at Hampton University studying marine science, caught two fish by 10:30 am Saturday morning. It was his first time at the Rod and Reef Slam, but he was no stranger to fishing off the pier near Hampton University’s campus. The more oysters, he said, the more the river benefits. 

The oysters in the Bay could once filter a volume of water equal to that of the entire Bay—about 19 trillion gallons—in a week. Today, it would take the remaining Bay oysters more than a year. Decades of overharvesting, habitat destruction, and disease have decimated the Bay’s oyster population. 

CBF and its partners are working to restore oyster reefs in local Virginia rivers. Just last week, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation awarded CBF a grant to bring one million baby oysters to two new sanctuary reefs in the Hampton River. This community-oriented project in the densely populated city will engage Hampton University students and other civic organizations.  

This work will complement CBF’s existing restored reefs, whose success includes increased populations of popular reef fish. 

Explore more oyster facts and view a time lapse video of oysters filtering water. 

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF), Virginia Interfaith Power & Light (VAIPL), and Mosby Memorial Baptist Church will give away 200 native trees and shrubs to Richmond residents on Saturday, September 21, from 9:00 a.m. to noon. This free giveaway is an opportunity for homeowners to beautify their properties while contributing to a healthier environment.

“Fall is the ideal time of year to plant new trees,” said Ann Jurczyk, CBF Virginia Manager of Urban Restoration. “These native species provide vital habitat for birds and pollinators, while also cleaning the air we breathe. Trees filter out particulate pollution, a major contributor to asthma attacks, and help reduce stormwater runoff. Planting a well-placed tree can even save money on heating and cooling bills.”

Residents can choose from a variety of native trees and shrubs suited for the Richmond area. Species available include Redbud, Dogwood, Serviceberry, Inkberry, and Buttonbush.

“Many of us know all the many health and ecological benefits of trees,” said Faith Harris, Executive Director of Interfaith Power & Light. “However, most do not know that trees play a significant role in many of our religious traditions. In the Hebrew Bible, New Testament, and the Koran, trees provide a metaphor for wisdom, strength, perseverance, and good or godly character.  A lawn, community village, or landscape without trees is desolate and seemingly without creative activity. At VAIPL, we plant trees to honor their place within the traditions of our many faiths.”

Despite their value, Virginia’s trees continue to disappear at an alarming rate. At a time when the Chesapeake Bay watershed is struggling to meet 2025 water quality and restoration goals, planting trees remains one of the most successful and cost-effective solutions to reducing polluted runoff and cleaning local waterways.

Trees also provide significant benefits in cities, where they cool communities, combat flooding and reduce air pollution, all of which are exacerbated by climate change. 

Reserve free trees and shrubs and pick up your trees on:

• Date: Saturday, September 21
• Time: 9:00 a.m.–12:00 pm
• Location: Mosby Memorial Baptist Church (address provided upon registration)

This giveaway is a great way to:

• Enhance your landscape with beautiful native plants
• Support local wildlife and pollinators
• Improve air and water quality in your community
• Save money on your energy bills

Delegate Kathy Tran (D-Fairfax) received the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s (CBF) Virginia Legislator of the Year award last week for her work protecting Virginians and the Chesapeake Bay from toxic substances and reducing pollution flowing into beloved waterways.

The new law Tran spearheaded, which passed the General Assembly this year, prohibits the sale and application of any pavement sealant with a PAH concentration greater than one percent by weight. Applied both commercially and privately, the sealant is a black liquid marketed as a pavement protector. These products contain high levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are toxic and carcinogenic chemicals that can harm people, birds, amphibians, fish, mammals, and plants.

“Delegate Tran’s leadership in addressing harmful toxics and pollutants has been a testament to her dedication towards creating healthier communities and restoring the Chesapeake Bay. Her unwavering support for the importance of banning toxic pavement sealants is highlighted by the fact that she carried this legislation for four years until its passage earlier this year, reflecting her tireless commitment to a cleaner environment for everyone,” said CBF Virginia Executive Director Chris Moore. “Because of her work, Virginia’s new law will reduce pollution to waterways and help shield Virginians from harmful chemicals.”

“I am honored to receive the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s Virginia Legislator of the Year award,” said Tran. “Toxic pavement sealants put our children’s lives at risk and pollute our waterways. Many families do not realize that when repairing their driveway, they could be applying a toxic product that causes cancer in people and fish. Banning their sale is a commonsense action, and I am proud to partner with the experts at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation to pass this bill and protect our children, marine life, and waterways.” 

“The Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s deep commitment to protecting the Bay inspires us all to be better environmental stewards, and I look forward to continuing our work together to build a cleaner and healthier Virginia for all,” Tran said. 

CBF presents its Virginia Legislator of the Year Awards to lawmakers who have made outstanding efforts in the General Assembly to improve the health and resources of Virginia’s rivers, streams, and the Chesapeake Bay. Recent Virginia Legislator of the Year awards include Senator Emmett Hanger (R-Augusta), Delegate David Bulova (D-Fairfax),  and Delegate Alfonso Lopez (D-Arlington and Alexandria). 

Planting in the fall by award-winning volunteers from the Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership

Supported by a Healing the Planet grant from The GIANT Company and Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful®, the City of Lancaster will get new trees this fall, planted by award-winning volunteers for the Keystone 10 Million Trees (K10) Partnership.

“The GIANT Company is pleased to partner with Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful to provide a grant to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation in support of its efforts to bring more trees to the Lancaster community,” said Courtney Hopcraft, manager of community relations and charitable giving for The GIANT Company. “Trees play a vital role in creating healthy communities and we are especially thrilled to see this grant benefit current and future students of McCaskey High School.”

The $4,000 Healing the Planet grant supports a tree planting in November at McCaskey High School, within the School District of Lancaster, led by Marlisa Yoder-Bontrager, and twin sisters Keisha and Tarsha Scovens. The three were recipients of the 2023 Mira Lloyd Dock Partnership Diversity Award, presented by the K10 Partnership, which is coordinated by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF).

Dock Award winners were recognized for their conservation and Environmental Justice work in under-represented communities.

Each Dock Award winner will receive $5,000 for the planting and $1,000 for maintenance of the trees. Trees for the planting will come from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Tree Pennsylvania program, as well as the K10 Partnership.

Yoder-Bontrager’s portion of the project will also be supported by funding from the Frank Albrecht Memorial Fund. Frank Albrecht worked in the School District of Lancaster for more than 30 years, spending many years at McCaskey High School. He passed away from complications of ALS on August 24, at the age of 66. 

Volunteers from the Lancaster community will help with the planting.

“More trees for the City of Lancaster provided by this new funding will be important for the health and welfare of local residents, as well as the Conestoga River,” said Julia Krall, Pennsylvania Executive Director for CBF. “We appreciate the support from The GIANT Company and Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful®. With this funding, the Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership and its Dock Award winners will contribute to the great work already happening in Lancaster County to reduce polluted runoff into local waters.”

McCaskey High School is located west of the Conestoga River, identified in the City of Lancaster’s Comprehensive Plan as a “polluted and neglected part of our city’s landscape for too long.” The trees will filter and absorb polluted runoff before it reaches the Conestoga River, which travels directly through the City of Lancaster. Students will have access to the trees and the health and wellbeing benefits that they provide.

Mira Lloyd Dock is recognized as the first Pennsylvania woman to lead the way in forest conservation. She was an advocate for Penn’s Woods and in 1901 was appointed to the State Forest Reservation Commission by Pennsylvania Governor William Stone.

The GIANT Company and Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful awarded a total of $108,243 in support of 32 projects focused on tree planting projects. Funding for the grants was provided by customers at GIANT, MARTIN’S, and GIANT Heirloom Market stores who agreed to round up their grocery purchase to the nearest dollar from March through May. 

Learn more about the Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership.

Newly-planted trees along Pennsylvania streams will live longer, grow stronger, and have a better chance to clean and protect local waters, thanks to a grant by the Foxwynd Foundation of Chester County to the Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership. The partnership is coordinated by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF).

The $75,000 tree survival grant from the Foxwynd Foundation, of Uwchland, PA, stems from its mission to support initiatives that foster community well-being and resilience.

“At Foxwynd Foundation, we are committed to fostering environmental sustainability,” Pamela Villagra, Foundation Executive Director said. “Supporting the Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership is a crucial step in ensuring that the trees planted today thrive and contribute to a healthier environment for future generations. We are proud to play a part in this initiative, which aligns with our mission to protect and preserve our natural resources.”

The one-year tree survival grant will be used for maintenance, supplies, and logistical support for trees planted by the Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership, which has grown to over 300 member organizations.

“Maintaining trees is as important as planting them,” said Julia Krall, Pennsylvania Executive Director for CBF. “New trees cannot mature and filter and absorb polluted runoff if they don’t survive. The important follow-up care for trees by partners, made possible by the generous support of the Foxwynd Foundation, will have a positive impact on local water quality.”

The grant is one of the first for Foxwynd’s environmental focus and requires matching funds within a year. CBF would like those funds to come from the support of CBF memberships.

Maintenance in a riparian buffer may include straightening, removing, or replacing tree shelters after storms, and checking for competing vegetation inside shelters. Other work could include removing bird nets from shelters with trees growing out the top, applying herbicides, and mowing around trees.

Roughly 28,000 miles of Pennsylvania’s rivers and streams are damaged by polluted runoff and the legacy of coal mining. Trees are the most cost-effective tools for cleaning and protecting waterways. Trees filter and absorb polluted runoff, stabilize streambanks, and improve soil quality. Trees also help address climate change by cooling the air and sequestering carbon.

Foxwynd Foundation’s generous donation to the Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership is funded by The Foxwynd Foundation Donor Advised Fund. Launched in January 2024, the Foxwynd Foundation has impacted environmental sustainability, healthcare, and housing through 32 organizations in 17 U.S. states.

Learn more about the Foxwynd Foundation and the Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership.

Discussion on key Bay health practice comes as restoration effort nears 2025 deadlines

Farmers in White Post, Virginia, traded successes and lessons learned from implementing conservation practices that benefit their land and livestock while reducing pollution to local waterways Wednesday. 

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation is a partner in the Mountains-to-Bay Grazing Alliance, which hosted the roundtable Wednesday, providing local farmers an inside look at conservation practices in action at a local 227-acre farm.

“Rotational grazing is a regenerative farming practice and remains one of the most effective ways to improve soil health and reduce pollution from farms to the rivers and streams that feed the Chesapeake Bay,” said Matt Kowalski, Chesapeake Bay Foundation Virginia Watershed Restoration Scientist. “We were excited to be part of this roundtable so new and experienced rotational grazing farmers could hear from each other about their experiences and the benefits of putting these practices in place.”

The grazing roundtable kicked off with Ryan O’Connor of Green Rock Enterprises explaining to the group the rotational grazing, tree plantings, grazing infrastructure, and portable fencing and water troughs put in place when he began managing the farm three years ago. 

“This land had been continuously grazed. The consequences of that were pretty obvious. The grass was short, spare, a lot of noxious weeds everywhere. But now we have a lot more ground cover, diversity, a lot more grass. We’re still learning, but over time, I think we’ll continue to see more benefits of these regenerative practices,” O’Connor said. 

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation, the local Soil and Water Conservation District, and the National Resources Conservation Service were some of the organizations that helped implement these projects over the years.

After visiting the grazing operation, farmers chatted over dinner with other producers and technical experts about incorporating rotational grazing into their farming operation. Farmers expressed ways they planned to change their fencing and asked questions about timing for rotating the grazing livestock.

This grazing roundtable comes at a pivotal time in Bay restoration. Virginia is expected to miss 2025 pollution reduction deadlines set by the federal-state Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement. 

This increases the urgency for Virginia Governor Youngkin to recommit to Bay restoration and address challenges identified by the latest science at the December Chesapeake Executive Council meeting of Bay state leaders. 

A recent EPA milestone report noted Virginia’s significant funding in recent years for these agricultural best management practices. While they have helped reduce pollution, the report noted that agriculture and stormwater runoff from developed areas remain major sources of pollution into the Chesapeake Bay and the rivers and streams that feed it.

Anglers can catch these fish in upcoming Maryland Rod and Reef Slam

To express his love of fishing in the Chesapeake Bay, Silver Spring resident Rick Bowers recently wrote and produced two new songs about Maryland’s most voracious invasive predators—the blue catfish and Chesapeake channa (formerly snakehead).

In his catchy country tunes, appropriately named “Blue Cat Blues” and “Chesapeake Channa,” Bowers encapsulates the joy of fishing for invasive species. He also highlights why targeting these fish is important for Bay health.

Blue Cat Blues and Chesapeake Channa by Rick Bowers Band can be found on Spotify.

“These two songs combine my passions for fishing and songwriting,” said Rick Bowers. “I hope people around the Bay can relate and feel inspired. Let’s get out there! Catching these invasive species is fun, flavorful, and good for the Bay.”

Rick is a Clean Water Captain with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) and is a member of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ Blue Catfish Advisory Committee, which proposes solutions to the destructive invasion of blue catfish in the Bay. 

“Like the song lyric says,” Bowers adds. “Blue cats are growing bigger; getting meaner; and sucking up the Bay like a vacuum cleaner.”

“Catching and eating invasive species like blue catfish and snakeheads is one of the most effective ways to reduce their harm to the Bay’s native ecosystem,” said Allison Colden, CBF Maryland Executive Director. “Rick’s songs perfectly reflect that, while also highlighting the fun that comes along with it.”

Anglers looking to follow Rick’s lead and target invasive species can do so in the upcoming Maryland Rod & Reef Slam fishing tournament, running from September 7 to 15. The tournament, hosted by CBF, Coastal Conservation Association Maryland, and Chesapeake Oyster Alliance, challenges participants to target the largest diversity of species by fishing around restored oyster sanctuary reefs. Oyster reefs provide exceptional habitat for fish species, including invasives.

The tournament will be followed by an award ceremony and beach party on Sunday, September 15 at CBF’s Philip Merrill Environmental Center in Annapolis, and will include live performances by The Eastport Oyster Boys. Learn more about this event.