www.fisheries.noaa.gov
Open in
urlscan Pro
2a02:26f0:7100:2b2::2580
Public Scan
Submitted URL: http://www.chesapeakebay.noaa.gov/
Effective URL: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/topic/chesapeake-bay
Submission Tags: cisagovother
Submission: On March 15 via manual from US — Scanned from DE
Effective URL: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/topic/chesapeake-bay
Submission Tags: cisagovother
Submission: On March 15 via manual from US — Scanned from DE
Form analysis 2 forms found in the DOM
GET /search
<form id="input-search-form_header-search" class="input-search" action="/search" method="GET">
<label for="header-search" class="sr-only">Search NOAA Fisheries</label>
<input type="search" id="header-search" name="oq" placeholder="Search NOAA Fisheries">
<button type="submit" class="fa fa-search input-search__button"><span class="sr-only">Search</span></button>
</form>GET https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/search
<form id="input-search-form_header-search-mobile" class="input-search" action="https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/search" method="GET">
<label for="header-search-mobile" class="sr-only">Search NOAA Fisheries</label>
<input type="search" id="header-search-mobile" name="oq" placeholder="Search NOAA Fisheries">
<button type="submit" class="fa fa-search input-search__button"><span class="sr-only">Search</span></button>
</form>Text Content
Skip to main content
Unsupported Browser Detected
Internet Explorer lacks support for the features of this website. For the best
experience, please use a modern browser such as Chrome, Firefox, or Edge.
NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION | U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Facebook(link is external) Instagram(link is external) Twitter(link is external)
YouTube(link is external) Mail |
SITE INDEX
CONTACT US
Search NOAA Fisheries Search
Menu
* Find A Species
*
* Find a Species
* Managed Species
* Highly Migratory Species
* Invertebrates
* Salmon & Steelhead
* Sharks
* Protected Species
* All Threatened & Endangered Species
* Corals & Other Invertebrates
* Dolphins & Porpoises
* Fish & Sharks
* Sea Turtles
* Seals & Sea Lions
* Whales
* Species By Region
* Alaska
* New England/Mid-Atlantic
* Pacific Islands
* Southeast
* West Coast
* Helpful Resources
* Marine Life Viewing Guidelines
* Marine Life in Distress
* Report a Stranded or Injured Marine Animal
* Species in the Spotlight
* Fishing & Seafood
*
* Sustainable Fisheries
* Bycatch
* Catch Shares
* Fishery Observers
* Illegal, Unregulated, Unreported Fishing
* Magnuson-Stevens Act
* Research Surveys
* Population Assessments
* Resources for Fishing
* Commercial Fishing
* Recreational Fishing
* Subsistence Fishing
* Fishery Management Info
* Permits & Forms
* Rules & Regulations by Region
* Sustainable Seafood
* Aquaculture
* Commerce & Trade
* Seafood Inspection
* Trade
* Related Topics
* Atlantic Highly Migratory Species
* Offshore Wind Energy
* Cooperative Research
* Enforcement
* Financial Services
* International Affairs
* Science & Data
* Socioeconomics
* Protecting Marine Life
*
* Endangered Species Conservation
* Consultations
* Critical Habitat
* Endangered Species Act
* Research Surveys
* Population Assessments
* Species Recovery
* Species in the Spotlight
* Marine Mammal Protection
* Health & Stranding Response
* Marine Mammal Protection Act
* Research Surveys
* Population Assessments
* Take Reduction Plans
* Marine Life in Distress
* Report a Stranded or Injured Marine Animal
* Bycatch
* Ocean Acoustics/Noise
* Unusual Mortality Events
* Vessel Strikes
* Related Topics
* Marine Life Viewing Guidelines
* Enforcement
* Funding Opportunities
* International Cooperation
* Permits & Authorizations
* Regulations & Actions
* Offshore Wind Energy
* Science & Data
* Environment
*
* Ecosystems
* U.S. Regional Ecosystems
* Management
* Science
* Habitat Conservation
* Habitat Restoration
* Habitat Protection
* Types of Habitat
* Habitat by Region
* Science
* Consultations
* Climate Change
* Understanding the Impacts
* Responding to Change
* Climate & Fisheries Initiative
* Regional Activities
* Offshore Wind Energy
* Regions
*
* Our Regions
* Alaska
* New England/ Mid-Atlantic
* Pacific Islands
* Southeast
* West Coast
* Contact Us
* Regional Offices
* Science Centers
* Resources & Services
*
* Rules & Regulations
* Fisheries Rules & Regs
* Fisheries Management Info
* Protected Resources Regs & Actions
* Permits
* Fishing & Seafood
* Protected Resources
* International & Trade
* Funding & Financial Services
* Funding Opportunities
* Financial Services
* Prescott Grants
* Saltonstall-Kennedy Grants
* Habitat Restoration Grants
* Consultations
* Habitat
* Endangered Species
* Tribal
* Science & Data
* Research
* Surveys
* Data
* Maps & GIS
* Publications
* Published Research
* Key Reports
* Documents
* Publication Databases
* Outreach Materials
* Laws & Policies
* Magnuson-Stevens Act
* Endangered Species Act
* Marine Mammal Protection Act
* Policies
* Outreach & Education
* For Educators
* For Students
* Educational Materials
* Events
* About Us
*
* NOAA Fisheries
* Our Mission
* Who We Are
* Where We Work
* Our History
* News & Media
* News & Announcements
* Bulletins
* Multimedia
* Science Blogs
* Events
* Video Gallery
* Photo Gallery
* Careers & More
* Internships
* Volunteering & Citizen Science
* Diversity & Inclusion
* Contact Us
* National Program Offices
* Regional Offices
* Science Centers
* Our Partners
* Regional Fishery Management Councils
* Marine Fishery Advisory Committee
* Federal Partners
* State Partners
* Tribal Governments
* Non-Government Organizations
* COVID-19 Information
* Fisheries COVID-19 Updates
* Economic Impacts
* CARES Act
Search NOAA Fisheries Search
* Find A Species
Back
Find A Species
Find a Species
* Managed Species
* Highly Migratory Species
* Invertebrates
* Salmon & Steelhead
* Sharks
Protected Species
* All Threatened & Endangered Species
* Corals & Other Invertebrates
* Dolphins & Porpoises
* Fish & Sharks
* Sea Turtles
* Seals & Sea Lions
* Whales
Species By Region
* Alaska
* New England/Mid-Atlantic
* Pacific Islands
* Southeast
* West Coast
Helpful Resources
* Marine Life Viewing Guidelines
* Marine Life in Distress
* Report a Stranded or Injured Marine Animal
* Species in the Spotlight
* Fishing & Seafood
Back
Fishing & Seafood
Sustainable Fisheries
* Bycatch
* Catch Shares
* Fishery Observers
* Illegal, Unregulated, Unreported Fishing
* Magnuson-Stevens Act
* Research Surveys
* Population Assessments
Resources for Fishing
* Commercial Fishing
* Recreational Fishing
* Subsistence Fishing
* Fishery Management Info
* Permits & Forms
* Rules & Regulations by Region
Sustainable Seafood
* Aquaculture
* Commerce & Trade
* Seafood Inspection
* Trade
Related Topics
* Atlantic Highly Migratory Species
* Offshore Wind Energy
* Cooperative Research
* Enforcement
* Financial Services
* International Affairs
* Science & Data
* Socioeconomics
* Protecting Marine Life
Back
Protecting Marine Life
Endangered Species Conservation
* Consultations
* Critical Habitat
* Endangered Species Act
* Research Surveys
* Population Assessments
* Species Recovery
* Species in the Spotlight
Marine Mammal Protection
* Health & Stranding Response
* Marine Mammal Protection Act
* Research Surveys
* Population Assessments
* Take Reduction Plans
Marine Life in Distress
* Report a Stranded or Injured Marine Animal
* Bycatch
* Ocean Acoustics/Noise
* Unusual Mortality Events
* Vessel Strikes
Related Topics
* Marine Life Viewing Guidelines
* Enforcement
* Funding Opportunities
* International Cooperation
* Permits & Authorizations
* Regulations & Actions
* Offshore Wind Energy
* Science & Data
* Environment
Back
Environment
Ecosystems
* U.S. Regional Ecosystems
* Management
* Science
Habitat Conservation
* Habitat Restoration
* Habitat Protection
* Types of Habitat
* Habitat by Region
* Science
* Consultations
Climate Change
* Understanding the Impacts
* Responding to Change
* Climate & Fisheries Initiative
* Regional Activities
* Offshore Wind Energy
* Regions
Back
Regions
Our Regions
* Alaska
* New England/ Mid-Atlantic
* Pacific Islands
* Southeast
* West Coast
Contact Us
* Regional Offices
* Science Centers
* Resources & Services
Back
Resources & Services
Rules & Regulations
* Fisheries Rules & Regs
* Fisheries Management Info
* Protected Resources Regs & Actions
Permits
* Fishing & Seafood
* Protected Resources
* International & Trade
Funding & Financial Services
* Funding Opportunities
* Financial Services
* Prescott Grants
* Saltonstall-Kennedy Grants
* Habitat Restoration Grants
Consultations
* Habitat
* Endangered Species
* Tribal
Science & Data
* Research
* Surveys
* Data
* Maps & GIS
Publications
* Published Research
* Key Reports
* Documents
* Publication Databases
* Outreach Materials
Laws & Policies
* Magnuson-Stevens Act
* Endangered Species Act
* Marine Mammal Protection Act
* Policies
Outreach & Education
* For Educators
* For Students
* Educational Materials
* Events
* About Us
Back
About Us
NOAA Fisheries
* Our Mission
* Who We Are
* Where We Work
* Our History
News & Media
* News & Announcements
* Bulletins
* Multimedia
* Science Blogs
* Events
* Video Gallery
* Photo Gallery
Careers & More
* Internships
* Volunteering & Citizen Science
* Diversity & Inclusion
Contact Us
* National Program Offices
* Regional Offices
* Science Centers
Our Partners
* Regional Fishery Management Councils
* Marine Fishery Advisory Committee
* Federal Partners
* State Partners
* Tribal Governments
* Non-Government Organizations
COVID-19 Information
* Fisheries COVID-19 Updates
* Economic Impacts
* CARES Act
CHESAPEAKE BAY
Overview Healthy Fisheries Habitat Science Oyster Restoration Climate Change
Environmental Literacy
FacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditShare
CHESAPEAKE BAY
The Chesapeake Bay is the nation’s largest estuary. Its 64,000 square mile
watershed encompasses one of the most economically significant regions of the
United States. More than 18 million people live in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
The Chesapeake produces about 500 million pounds of seafood each year,
supporting jobs in both commercial and recreational fishing and bolstering the
regional economy.
The Bay is a highly valued resource for the region for additional reasons,
including tourism, recreational boating, and scenic beauty. In recent decades,
the Bay’s biologically diverse ecosystem has seen sharp declines in some of its
keystone species, including the native oyster. Human effects on the ecosystem,
like overfishing, degraded water quality, and habitat destruction, are
significant challenges to the Chesapeake and the species that live there. We
work to improve the health of the Bay by using the latest science to ensure its
sustainable use for generations to come.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FEATURED NEWS
Feature Story
PARTNERSHIP SUPPORTS MINORITIES IN AQUACULTURE INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITY
National
The NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office and partners operate three arrays of acoustic
telemetry receivers in the Chesapeake Bay.
Feature Story
TRACKING FISH IN THE CHESAPEAKE BAY HELPS RESEARCHERS AND RESOURCE MANAGERS
The NOAA Fisheries Technical Memorandum on total suspended matter near restored
oyster reefs in the Chesapeake Bay explores differences between reef areas that
are influenced by the Bay's main stem or by creeks.
Feature Story
RESEARCH EXPLORES WHETHER SATELLITES CAN “SEE” BENEFITS OF OYSTER RESTORATION
New England/Mid-Atlantic
Aerial view of a river flowing into the Chesapeake Bay estuary. Credit: NOAA
Feature Story
TOP 21 HABITAT CONSERVATION STORIES OF 2021
National
View More News
MORE INFORMATION
* About the NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office
* About the Office of Habitat Conservation
* Chesapeake Bay Fisheries Research Grants
* Chesapeake Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) Grants
* Explore the New England/Mid-Atlantic Region
* About the Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office
* About the Northeast Fisheries Science Center
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
UPCOMING EVENTS
There are currently no upcoming events.
More Events
OPEN FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
There are currently no open funding opportunities.
More Opportunities
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FACT
3,600+ SPECIES OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS
More than 3,600 plants and animals call the Chesapeake Bay home! The Bay
supports an impressive diversity of flora and fauna including 348 species of
finfish, 173 species of shellfish, more than 2,700 plant species, and more than
16 species of underwater grasses.
FACT
11,684 MILES OF SHORELINE
The Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries have 11,684 miles of shoreline—more
than the entire U.S. West Coast. But the Bay is surprisingly shallow: its
average depth, including tidal tributaries, is about 21 feet. A person who is
six feet tall could wade through more than 700,000 acres of the Bay and never
get their hat wet.
FACT
18+ TRILLION GALLONS OF WATER
The Chesapeake Bay holds more than 18 trillion gallons of water! Each day,
roughly 51 billion gallons flow into the Bay from its freshwater tributaries.
FACT
1.8 DEGREES
Over the past 30 years, the average water temperature in the Chesapeake Bay has
increased by 1 degree Celsius, or 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit. These and future
changes threaten coastal communities, aquatic life, and our ability to restore
an already stressed system.
Show me another fact
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FOCUSING ON THE CHOPTANK RIVER WATERSHED
The Choptank River on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, its tributaries, and their
watershed are treasured parts of the Chesapeake Bay—and it has been designated
as a NOAA Habitat Focus Area. NOAA and partners are restoring habitat,
connecting decisionmakers with needed information, and engaging communities as
they look to their future.
Learn more about NOAA’s work in this special place
EXPLORING NEARSHORE FISH HABITAT IN VIRGINIA’S MIDDLE PENINSULA
The Middle Peninsula—the watersheds of Virginia’s York and Piankatank rivers and
Mobjack Bay—holds habitat including marshes, wetlands, oyster reefs, and
underwater grasses. NOAA is working with other federal agencies and other
organizations on nearshore habitat restoration and oyster reefs in these
vulnerable waters.
Learn more about NOAA’s middle peninsula work
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SUPPORTING THE CHESAPEAKE BAY PROGRAM
The Chesapeake Bay Program is a regional partnership of federal, state, and
local governments; nonprofit organizations; and academic institutions—all
driving toward a healthier Chesapeake. NOAA plays key roles in partnership
efforts in fisheries, education, habitat, and climate.
Learn more about the Chesapeake Bay program's work(link is external)
BUILDING AN OUTDOOR LEARNING NETWORK
NOAA is partnering with several organizations to build a network of school
systems and organizations that will deliver meaningful watershed educational
experiences to students around the Chesapeake watershed.
Learn more about our work to support student experiences in the Chesapeake Bay
watershed(link is external)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MULTIMEDIA
NOAA FISHERIES VIDEO GALLERY
Infographic
INFOGRAPHIC: VALUE OF CHESAPEAKE BAY OYSTER HABITAT
New England/Mid-Atlantic
Infographic
INFOGRAPHIC: HABITAT CONSERVATION
National
Video
WE ARE NOAA FISHERIES 2019
National
HEALTHY FISHERIES
As long as humans have lived near the Chesapeake, they have enjoyed eating
seafood from the Bay. The Chesapeake is home to 348 species of finfish and 173
species of shellfish. It is a source for both commercial and recreational
harvest. Blue crab, oysters, and striped bass are some of the Chesapeake's
treasured species. The Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries are also home to
species that people do not harvest for food, including the endangered Atlantic
sturgeon.
NOAA does not manage fisheries in the Chesapeake Bay; that work is handled by
the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Virginia Marine Resources
Commission, and Potomac River Fisheries Commission(link is external). But we do
play an active role in ensuring the most up-to-date science is available to
resource managers and decision makers around the Bay.
This supports ecosystem-based fisheries management in the complex and dynamic
Chesapeake Bay.
One way we do this is by leading the Chesapeake Bay Program's Sustainable
Fisheries Goal Implementation Team(link is external), bringing experts together
to talk about fisheries science. This team supports the blue crab fishery by
issuing an annual Blue Crab Advisory Report that discusses the state of the blue
crab population in the Bay. It also tackles emerging challenges, like
the invasive blue catfish population and the effects these voracious eaters may
have on the ecosystem.
To support advancement of fisheries science, we manage the Chesapeake Bay
Fisheries Research Program. This grant competition supports researchers who
explore topics to find answers that fishery managers need. Recent projects have
worked to quantify the ecosystem and economic benefits that restored oyster
reefs bring to the ecosystem. Current projects explore summer flounder, black
sea bass, and the forage species and habitats they need to thrive.
MORE INFORMATION
* About the NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office
* Chesapeake Bay Fisheries Research Grants
* Chesapeake Bay Program’s Sustainable Fisheries Team(link is external)
HABITAT SCIENCE
The Chesapeake Bay and its watershed provide habitat for more than 3,600 species
of plants and animals. Healthy habitats provide food and shelter for these
species, which include fish, crabs, and oysters. The Chesapeake is a diverse
ecosystem. Habitats in the Bay include:
* Underwater grasses
* Wetlands
* Oyster reefs
* Rivers
* Shorelines
The water itself also serves as habitat. Fish and other species are affected by
water quality, temperature, and other conditions.
As part of NOAA's efforts to protect and restore a variety of habitats, we
conduct science to make restoration as effective and efficient as possible.
We use sonar equipment to gather data and then our experts analyze what is found
at the bottom of the Bay and its tributaries. This information can help ensure
that oyster reef restoration projects are sited where they can succeed—for
example, by making sure the bottom is hard enough so that newly constructed
reefs won't sink into the mud. NOAA scientists also track the progress of
restored reefs by surveying these areas 3 and 6 years after restoration.
Data from sonar is also helping NOAA's work on Atlantic sturgeon by identifying
critical habitat including potential spawning grounds. This is vital for the
recovery of this endangered species. Sonar can show where there gravelly bottom
sturgeon prefer for egg laying is located, and then resource managers can
protect those areas.
NOAA manages a set of observation buoys—the Chesapeake Bay Interpretive Buoy
System—that tracks data on water quality as well as meteorological and
oceanographic conditions. Data from the buoys is updated every six minutes. It
is used by scientists, marine safety organizations, boaters, teachers and
students, and others who want to learn more about the Chesapeake.
We also use data from NOAA satellites to understand the effects of water
temperature, sediment, and water clarity on habitat.
MORE INFORMATION
* About the NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office
* Habitat Conservation
* NOAA Chesapeake Bay Interpretive Buoy System
OYSTER RESTORATION
Oysters are an important part of the Chesapeake Bay. They filter and remove
excess nutrients like nitrogen from the water and they grow in reefs that
provide habitat for fish and crabs. Oyster reefs support not only the ecosystem,
but the economy. As a result of disease, overfishing, degraded water quality,
and other problems, only about 1–2 percent of the historic native oyster
population remains.
NOAA works with other agencies and organizations to restore oyster reefs in
Maryland and Virginia waters of the Chesapeake Bay. NOAA experts lead workgroups
that develop and implement restoration work. NOAA scientists conduct sonar
surveys and develop habitat analysis to guide projects and monitor progress. And
NOAA provides funding to support the hatchery production of baby oysters.
Project partners include the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Virginia
Marine Resources Commission, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and nonprofit Oyster
Recovery Partnership. Universities, local governments, and nonprofits contribute
unique skills and resources as well.
The Chesapeake Bay Program, in which NOAA is a partner, has set as a goal to
restore oysters to 10 Chesapeake tributaries by 2025(link is external). In
Maryland, the tributaries are:
* Harris Creek
* Little Choptank River
* Tred Avon River
* St. Mary's River
* Manokin River
In Virginia, the tributaries are:
* Great Wicomico River
* Lafayette River
* Lower York River
* Lynnhaven River
* Piankatank River
RESTORATION BLUEPRINT
Partners develop a "blueprint" that describes precisely where restoration will
happen in each tributary. Each blueprint includes maps generated by NOAA on
where the best places for restoration are in that particular tributary. The
blueprints also indicate how many oysters will be needed so that the completed
project will meet the definition of "restored(link is external)." They also
describe—based on location—what is type of restoration is needed. Some areas
might only need to be seeded with "spat-on-shell" baby oysters. Others might
need to have reefs constructed and to be seeded with spat on shell. Still others
might need to have reefs constructed so that naturally occurring spat have a
hard place on which to settle and grow.
Experts monitor each restored reef at 3 and 6 years post-restoration to see how
big the reefs are and how many oysters live there. In Maryland, for example,
from fall 2015 through fall 2020, they monitored 203 3-year-old reefs and 70
6-year-old reefs. Of these reefs, 96 percent of the 3-year old reefs and 99
percent of the 6-year-old reefs met the minimum criteria for oyster density for
success. A full 100 percent of the monitored reefs met the structural success
criteria for reef height and footprint. Since the tributaries were chosen in
different years, they are all at different stages in their progress toward
completion.
All of these large-scale projects are in places that Maryland or Virginia has
protected from harvest, giving the oysters the opportunity to grow and thrive.
Because oyster larvae float with the currents, larvae produced by a reef in one
creek may end up settling in a neighboring creek where harvesting oysters is
legal.
RESTORATION BENEFITS FOR ECOSYSTEM AND ECONOMY
These restored reef areas serve as a real-life laboratory where scientists can
research the benefits they bring to the ecosystem. NOAA scientists and
NOAA-funded researchers at academic institutions are exploring the ways restored
reefs help the ecosystem and the economy.
NUTRIENT REMOVAL
Successful oyster reefs are expected to remove about seven times more nitrogen
each day than unrestored sand/mud bottoms can. In Harris Creek (Maryland) alone,
restored reefs remove nitrogen equivalent to roughly 20,000 bags of garden
fertilizer.
INCREASED BLUE CRAB SURVIVAL
During a study, juvenile crabs had three to four times better chance of
surviving predators if they were on a reef than if they were on sandy bottom.
RESTORED REEFS PROVIDE ECONOMIC BOOST
Compared to a fished-down starting point, fully mature oyster reefs in one Bay
river system would yield a 160 percent increase to the blue crab harvest(link is
external). It would also create an estimated nearly $23 million increase in
annual fishing revenues in the two closest counties. More than 300 (full- and
part-time) jobs could result as well.
RESTORED REEFS, HARVEST REEFS ARE VISUALLY DIFFERENT
A video compilation by researchers shows(link is external) that restored reef
areas and areas that are open to oyster harvest can look very different: In
restoration reefs, oysters grow vertically, offering lots of habitat area for a
range of species. In harvest reefs, the oysters are generally horizontal.
MORE INFORMATION
* About the NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office
* Chesapeake Bay Program’s Oyster Restoration Progress Tracker(link is
external)
* StoryMap: Oyster Reef Restoration in the Chesapeake Bay(link is external)
CLIMATE CHANGE
Over the past several decades, sea levels and temperatures have risen at rates
higher than historical averages. Air temperatures in most locations in the
Chesapeake Bay watershed have increased over the last century. These increases
range from 0.4 to 2.5 degrees Fahrenheit. Warmer air temperatures lead to warmer
water. Over the past 30 years, the average water temperature in the Chesapeake
Bay has increased by 1 degree Celsius(link is external) (1.8 degrees
Fahrenheit). And the Chesapeake Bay can expect an additional 1.3 to 5.2 feet in
sea level rise(link is external) over the next century. These and future changes
threaten coastal communities, aquatic life, and our ability to restore an
already stressed system.
The Chesapeake Bay is particularly vulnerable to these changes because many of
its native plants and animals are already at the edge of their temperature
range. For example, eelgrass, an underwater grass that currently dominates much
of the lower Bay, is at the southernmost edge of its range. As Bay temperatures
increase, we are likely to see marked decreases of eelgrass—a critical habitat
for fish, crabs, and many other Bay species. But, at least in the Chesapeake
Bay, eelgrass can’t simply move farther north. It needs to live in saltier
water, like that found in the southern part of the Chesapeake.
Other changes—including variations in salinity, sea level rise, ocean
acidification, and storm intensity—could pose challenges to Bay species.
THREATS TO COASTAL COMMUNITIES
The Chesapeake Bay's coastal communities are a major economic engine for the
region. They support commercial and recreational fishing, desirable living
areas, and major recreational opportunities. Immediate and potentially
life-threatening events such as hurricanes, as well as long-term issues like
recurrent tidal flooding, pose real challenges to both safety and the economy.
NOAA provides data and information to help people understand and prepare for
climate variability and change across the nation and around the world. We are
also looking at climate challenges at a regional level through our partnership
in the Chesapeake Bay Program. Through the Climate Resiliency Workgroup(link is
external), we are working to connect citizens and decision makers with how they
can apply climate knowledge to projects, programs, and policies, as well as
incorporate climate variability into future restoration and protection efforts.
We fund research to help fishery managers better understand how to prepare for
and adapt to changes in habitat and how those changes will affect important fish
species. NOAA buoys monitor environmental conditions, helping us predict
changes. And we help educators and students learn more about how a changing
climate could affect the Chesapeake Bay
MORE INFORMATION
* About the NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office
* Northeast Regional Climate Action Plan
* Climate Information from NOAA Fisheries
ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY
Giving area residents the information and tools they need to make good decisions
about taking care of the Chesapeake is key to sustaining a healthy Bay.
Educating today's students—tomorrow's stewards—is an important part of this
effort. We manage programs designed to increase the environmental literacy of
students in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
One of our biggest programs in the area is the Chesapeake Bay-Watershed
Education and Training (B-WET) grant program. This program gives
support—financial and expertise—to school systems and other organizations that
provide education for students and training for teachers. For students, these
meaningful watershed educational experiences(link is external) are often spark a
life-long love of the Chesapeake Bay.
NOAA also runs the Environmental Science Training Center to give educators
knowledge and tools to deliver up-to-date science information to the next
generation of Bay stewards. Workshops are held at the Environmental Science
Training Center's home in Oxford, Maryland, and around the Bay watershed.
Another learning tool is Chesapeake Exploration, an online platform that gives
educators access to courses that advance their knowledge about local science
topics and resources.
We are dedicated to helping rising stars in estuarine science and policy grow
their skills. Every summer, the NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office hosts several
undergraduate and graduate school interns. These experiences give them
opportunities to take a deeper dive into an area of their interest. They gain
experience working at a NOAA office, while NOAA benefits from the energy and new
perspectives these students bring.
NOAA also leads the Chesapeake Bay Program's Education Workgroup(link is
external), providing expertise and coordination that lead to policies that
support environmental literacy throughout the watershed.
MORE INFORMATION
* About the NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office
* Chesapeake Bay-Watershed Education and Training Grants
* Chesapeake Bay Program’s Education Workgroup(link is external)
* What Is a MWEE?(link is external)
* NOAA Environmental Science Training Center
* Chesapeake Bay Internships
Sign up for news and announcements
Stay informed of all the latest regional news around NOAA Fisheries
Sign Up Now!
* NOAA Fisheries
* About Us
* Laws & Policies
* FishWatch
* NOAA
* Department of Commerce
* Site Index
* For Fishermen
* Rules & Regulations
* Permits & Forms
* Commercial Fishing
* Recreational Fishing
* Fishery Observers
* For Researchers
* Published Research
* Science & Data
* Contact Us
* Contact Us
* Media Inquiries
* Report a Violation
* Report a Stranded or Injured Marine Animal
* NOAA Staff Directory
Follow Us
Twitter(link is external)
Facebook(link is external)
Instagram(link is external)
Youtube(link is external)
Can't Find What You Need?
Tour Our Site
How are we doing? Send us your feedback (link is external)
Science. Service. Stewardship.
Accessibility
|
EEO
|
FOIA
|
Information Quality
|
Policies & Disclaimer
|
Privacy Policy
|
USA.gov
✓
Thanks for sharing!
AddToAny
More…
Chat Icon Send Us Your Feedback