Bay Grass Abundance

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Bay Grass Abundance
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Bay Grass Abundance by Zone
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Bay Grass Abundance Density
GOAL 185,000 acres by 2010. STATUS Very
dense beds account for 43 of Bay grasses in
2005. The percentage of very dense beds was
greatest in 1989 when they accounted for 53 of
submerged aquatic vegetation in the Bay.
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Gain in Wetland Acreage
GOAL Achieve a net resource gain by restoring
25,000 acres by 2010 in the Wetlands Restoration
Program. STATUS We have achieved 40 of the
wetland acreage gain goal through non-regulatory
programs. The Chesapeake Bay Program is working
to determine if this is indeed a net
gain. Establishment Create wetland that did not
previously exist. Reestablishment Restore
historic functions to a former wetland.
Data Collection In Progress
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Stream Miles Opened to Migratory and Resident Fish

• GOAL
• By 2014, open 2,807 miles of habitat to
  migratory and resident fishes.
• Between 2005-2014 complete 100 projects and
  open 1,000 miles of river and stream habitat.
• Dam removal projects opening high quality
  habitat are a priority.
• STATUS The removal of dams and fishway
  construction from 1988 through 2005 reopened
  1,838 miles of historic habitat to migratory and
  resident fish.
• In 2005, 5 projects opened 31 stream miles.

Source Chesapeake Bay Program Office
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Trends in Finfish Striped Bass
Maryland
GOAL Sustain the fishery. STATUS Moratoriums
in Maryland and Virginia followed by conservative
harvest limits allowed the stock to rebound. The
stock was declared restored in January 1995 by
the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries
Commission. Note Differences in data treatment
by MD and VA mean these graphs are not directly
comparable.
Moratorium 1985 - 1990
2005
Virginia
Moratorium 1989 - 1990
2005
Source for Maryland index data Maryland
Department of Natural Resources. Source for
Virginia index data Virginia Institute of Marine
Sciences.
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Striped Bass Spawning Stock
GOAL The goal for a recovered fishery was a
spawning stock biomass (SSB) equal to the
average SSBs recorded during 1960 -
1972. STATUS Successful management measures
led to decreased harvest pressure. The Atlantic
States Marine Fisheries Commission declared the
stock restored as ofJanuary 1, 1995.
Source Advisory and Summary Reports on the
Status of the Atlantic Striped Bass, Atlantic
States Marine Fisheries Striped Bass Technical
Committee
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Shad Returning to the Susquehanna River
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Hatchery Reared American Shad Stocking
GOAL Bay states, the US Fish and Wildlife
Service and the Pamunkey and Mattaponi Tribal
governments will annually rear and mark 15 - 25
million or more larval shad and stock them into
suitable tributary waters to enhance future
populations. STATUS In 2005, 23 million
American shad fry and fingerlings were reared in
hatcheries and released into Bay tributaries. A
total of 429 million have been stocked since 1986.
Source USFWS, Harrisburg, PA
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Trends in Blue Crab Commercial Harvest
GOAL Manage blue crabs to conserve the Baywide
stock, protect its ecological value and optimize
the long-term use of the resource. STATUS The
2004 harvest of approximately 60 million pounds
is below the long term average and near historic
lows. The 2004 fishing mortality rate did not
exceed the overfishing threshold but is above the
target.
Chesapeake Bay Blue Crab Landings
Average Fishing Mortality Rate
Threshold Not to be exceeded
Target Safe Harvest Level
Sources Landings - National Marine Fisheries
Service, NOAA.. Fishing Mortality Rate -
Chesapeake Bay Stock Assessment Committee
(CBSAC), unweighted average of 4 surveys.
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Trends in Blue Crab Juveniles
Age O (GOAL Manage blue crabs to conserve the Baywide
stock, protect its ecological value and optimize
the long-term use of the resource. STATUS It
appears that recruitment continued to improve in
2004. The number of juvenile blue crabs entering
the Chesapeake Bay population has stayed within
normal bounds for 12 straight years.
Average
VIMS Trawl, Calvert Cliffs, MD Trawl Winter
Dredge
VIMS Trawl, Calvert Cliffs MD Trawl
VIMS Trawl Calvert Cliffs
Sources MD Department of Natural Resources,
Virginia Institute of Marine Science, NOAA CBSAC.
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Trends in Blue Crab Mature Females
GOAL To protect the health of the blue crab
stock and maintain the spawning stock at a
sustainable level. STATUS Mature female
abundance has been below the long-term average
for seven straight years and eleven of the past
twelve years. Abundance declined in 2004 after
trending upwards for three straight years from an
historic low in 2000.
Spawning Stock Abundance
Average
VIMS Trawl, Calvert Cliffs, MD Trawl Winter
Dredge
VIMS Trawl, Calvert Cliffs MD Trawl
VIMS Trawl Calvert Cliffs
Sources MD Department of Natural Resources,
Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Academy of
Natural Science, NOAA CBSAC.
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Trends in Shellfish Oyster Harvest
Oyster harvests in the Bay have declined due to
overharvesting, disease, pollution and loss of
oyster reef habitat. Two diseases, discovered in
the 1950s and caused by the parasites MSX and
Dermo, have been a major cause of the oysters
decline during recent times.
Maryland and Virginia Commercial Landings
Recent Trends (millions of lbs.)
Source NMFS Fisheries Statistics of the U.S.
calendar year data.
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Trends in Shellfish Oyster Spat
GOAL Enhance production of oysters by restoring
habitat, controlling fishing mortality, promoting
aquaculture and continuing repletion
programs. STATUS Oyster reproduction has
continued to show strong annual variability, even
during recent decades, but survival to
harvestable size is severely compromised by MSX
and Dermo.
Maryland Spat Set Average Based on 53 Key Bars in
MD
2004
Source MD Department of Natural Resources.
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Trends in Shellfish Oyster Spat
James River Spat Set
GOAL Enhance production of oysters by restoring
habitat, controlling fishing mortality, promoting
aquaculture and continuing the repletion
programs. STATUS Reproduction has declined
from historical levels and survival to
harvestable size is severely compromised by MSX
and Dermo.
2004
Source Virginia Institute of Marine Science
Fall Bottom Survey. The indicator tracks an
average from seven bars on the James River
Horsehead, Long Shoal, Wreck Shoals, Point of
Shoals, Dry Shoal, Thomas Rock, and Nansemond
Ridge.
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Designated Oyster Restoration Areas
GOAL Designation of approximately 5,000 acres
each in MD and VA and 1,000 acres in the Potomac,
and to create new oyster reef habitat within
these areas by the year 2000. STATUS More than
50,000 acres were designated between 1996 and
2001. Within those designated areas, 330 acres of
oyster habitat have been constructed.
Source Chesapeake Bay Program Note The map
shows oyster restoration sites within designated
areas. Sites 10 and 11 represent designated
areas only.
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Trends in Waterfowl Black Duck and Mallard
GOAL Restore populations and habitats to 1970s
levels by the year 2000. STATUS The goal for
black ducks has not been reached, while the goal
for mallards has been achieved. Coastal
development and loss of remote estuarine marshes
limits black duck numbers.
Source U.S. Fish Wildlife Service.
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Trends in Diving Ducks
GOAL Restore populations and habitats to 1970s
levels by the year 2000. STATUS Overall,
diving ducks are doing well, however, canvasback
and redhead averages (2001-2005) are below goal
levels.
Source U.S. Fish Wildlife Service.
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Status and Trends for Chesapeake Bay Waterfowl
Doing Well (2005)
GOAL Restore populations and habitats to 1970s
levels by the year 2000. STATUS All of these
species or species groups have met their goals
and are showing improving trends since 1986-1990
when management plans were adopted.
Source US Fish and Wildlife Service
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Status and Trends for Chesapeake Bay WaterfowlIn
Need of Management Actions (2005)
GOAL Restore populations and habitats to 1970s
levels by the year 2000. STATUS Nine valuable
species or species groups have not met their
goals. Most show declining trends, although
northern pintails, canvasbacks, redheads and
migratory Canada geese have increased since
1986-1990 when management plans were adopted. For
some species, increasing populations may be bad
for the Bay.
Source US Fish and Wildlife Service