Running Head: CHESAPEAKE BAY REDUCED POPULATIONS 1

The Cause of Declining Fish Stock in the Chesapeake Bay and Efforts to Improve the Ecology
Brendan T. Wilbur
Glen Allen High School
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Abstract

This review discusses the decline in fish and shellfish stocks since the 1970s. Since the

1970s populations of various vital shellfish and gamefish species have experienced

rampant losses in their numbers. The most significant species include oysters, blue crabs,

striped bass, and menhaden. While there are various reasons for their decline, the most

significant include overfishing, and a reduction in the health of habitats. Historically,

overfishing has been to blame as allocation practices were not focused on conservation.

Excess nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus have been introduced to the bay as a

result of runoff and pollution. The preservation of Chesapeake Bay is vital to a healthy

future. A multitude of organizations push for new legislation and advocacy within the

affected communities. The Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement, the most significant

preservation document establishes goals to be upheld by 2025.

Introduction:

The Chesapeake Bay is a symbol of the vibrant culture of the southeast. The Bay itself is the

largest Estuary in the United States with a watershed spanning across the states of Virginia,

Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, West Virginia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and New York.

The span includes several different ecology zones featuring fresh, brackish, and saltwater

habitats. This review seeks to answer what is the cause of the Decline of fish stocks in the

Chesapeake Bay, and what can be done to restore populations. Prior to the 20th century, the bay

was thriving and was the main spawning point for several species of fish and shellfish. After the

Second World War, increased fishing and pollution drove stocks down reaching record lows in

the 1970s. Since the allocation of resources from the Bay makes up several billion dollars of

local economies annually, there is a need for conservation in order to ensure a healthy future.
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Decline in Fish Stocks

The Decline in stocks has been gradual over time. The peak occurred during the 1970s.

According the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF), many of the bays fisheries have been

reduced in productivity and efficiency (CBF 2017). Although many fish and shellfish call the

bay their home, the most significant species ecologically and economically speaking are striped

bass, menhaden, blue crab, and oysters. Striped bass are a gamefish that spending the majority

of their adult life in costal estuaries; the Chesapeake bay being the most significant one (Atlantic

States Marine Fisheries Commission 2017). From 2005 to 2014, total coastal recreational

harvest of striped bass ranged from 31 million pounds in 2006 to a low of 19.2 million pounds in

2012 (Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission 2017). There are several reasons as to their

decline, but a loss of food is one of them. Menhaden consist of over 70% of the Striped Bass

diet. Although they are not currently overfished, they still constitute the largest landings, by

volume, along the Atlantic coast (NOAA 2015). The baitfish form a vital link between upper

and lower Chesapeake Bay food webs since they are prayed on by almost all predator species.

Although the fish are unfit for human consumption, they are repeatedly caught and ground down

for their use in fish oils and animal feed. Like striped bass, they reached record lows in the

1970s, and recently, 300,000 to 400,000 metric tons have been caught annually (NOAA 2015).

Along with fish, shellfish species have also suffered. Blue crab fishing is the most

economically significant fishery in the bay. Unfortunately, lower numbers is taking a hit on

Virginia and Marylands Economies. Recently, in 2007 waterman faced the lowest ever recorded

harvest (CBF 2008). Within the last decade, there has been a loss of $640 million in potential

blue crab fishing revenue due to their lower stocks. The harvest has plummeted two thirds since

the 1990s resulting in a net loss of 4,486 crabbing jobs (CBF 2008). Oysters also face threats
Chesapeake Bay Reduce Populations 4

from overfishing, but most importantly a reduction in habitat (CBF 2017). Unfortunately, there

is not one simple answer that explains the decline of the Chesapeakes Ecology.

Causes of the Decline

There are multiple reasons that take responsibility for the Bays declining health. The

most significant factors include overfishing, and a reduction of health habitats. The Chesapeake

Bay foundation reports that overfishing is the result of conservation practices being pressured

into accommodate allocation practices (2017). Overfishing occurs when the allocation of fish

exceeds sustainable limits. Previously, fish and gamefish have been victims of this practice, but

more recently, shellfish are suffering as a result. Currently, fisherman are catching more than

62% of the bays population of blue crab each year. Catches over 46% are not sustainable (CBF

2008).

The most significant reason for declining stocks is related to unhealthy habitats. Without

a place to respawn, it is impossible for numbers to increase. Pollution in the form of nitrogen

and phosphorous is the main factor in reduced habitats. According to Motley, the first and most

alarming signs of the Chesapeake's illness came during the 1970s when submerged aquatic

vegetation began disappearing (1988). Excess nutrients from rural, urban, and suburban runoff

pollute the bay and cause surface algae. More than half of the bays eelgrasses have disappeared

since 1970 (CBF 2017). The grasses are vital as they provide juvenile species safety from

current and predators. Surface algae has gotten so bad that it block[s] sunlight and kill[s]

bottom grasses (Motley 1988). Where the algae is excessively thick, no oxygen is able to reach

the bay floor. In Maryland alone, pollution has also killed over 164,000 acres of oyster habitat

within the past 25 years (CBF 2008).

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Progress and Advocacy

Restoring the bay is left to advocacy and legislation. To reduce overfishing, governments

can establish stricter limits on what can be harvested. In May of 2015, A total allowable catch

(TAC) of 187,880 metric tons per year for menhaden was established. This significantly reduced

the previous estimates of three to four hounded thousand per year (NOAA 2017). Along with

placing limits on fishing, restoring the bays habitats in the form of pollution control is essential.

Signed in 1983, The Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement is most progressive conservation

document. (CBF 2014). The document establishes encourages sustainable fisheries, vital

habitat, water quality, citizen stewardship, landscape and public access goals to be carried out by

2025. Another solution includes the adoption of best management practices to reduce nitrogen

and phosphorus runoff in farms. The practice uses a cleaner method to plant seeds, and in

Virginia alone, 1,444 farmers have adopted the practice saving 333,930 tons of potential runoff

(Motley 1988). Another practice, as seen in Pennsylvania, is REAP (Resource Enhancement and

Protection Act) giving farmers who adopt pollution reducing measures a tax credit as an

incentive (CBF 2008). While the Chesapeake Bay is finally recognized as a national treasure in

need of conservation, there is still much that can be done.

Conclusion

The Chesapeake Bay was once a thriving estuary. Throughout the 1900s overfishing and

pollution significantly wore down the health of the watershed as a whole. Fortunately, more and

more practices are being adopted each day that will conserve the bay. With this in mind, the

research suggests that the only way to save the suffering Chesapeake Bay, crippled by

overfishing and habitat loss, is to encourage conservation agreements and advocacy within the

governments and communities that make up the watershed.

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References

(2017). About the Issues. Chesapeake Bay Foundation. Retrieved from

http://www.cbf.org/about-the-bay/issues/fisheries

(2017). Atlantic Striped Bass. Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. Retrieved from

http://www.asmfc.org/species/atlantic-striped-bass

(2008). Bad Water and the Decline of Blue Crabs in the Chesapeake Bay. Chesapeake Bay

Foundation. Retrieved from cbf.org/badwaters

(2014). Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement. Chesapeake Bay Foundation. Retrieved from

http://www.chesapeakebay.net/channel_files/24392/chesapeake_bay_watershed_agreeme

nt.pdf

(2015). Menhaden. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved from

https://chesapeakebay.noaa.gov/fish-facts/menhaden

Motley, S. A. (1988). Chesapeake Bay Cleanup. Technology Review, 91(2), 14 retrieved from

http://go.galegroup.com/ps/retrieve.do?

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