A New Bay Diet Plan for Fisheries?

Seafood Source, Stakeholders nearing update on Chesapeake Bay Agreement with multiple goals for fisheries

Federal and state stakeholders are getting close on an update to the Chesapeake Bay Agreement – a voluntary accord that sets goals for conservation and clean water – laying out desired outcomes for some of the region’s fisheries. First established in 1983, signatories to the agreement include the governments of Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Delaware, New York, and the District of Columbia, along with the Chesapeake Bay Commission and federal agencies. The last update to the agreement was signed more than a decade ago in 2014, but officials are reportedly close to signing onto a revised agreement with final approval expected at a 2 December Chesapeake Executive Council meeting.

 

“Improvements in habitat and water quality lead to healthier wildlife and fisheries. Environmentally – including agriculturally – literate people are more engaged stewards of the Chesapeake Bay’s healthy watersheds. Better water quality means swimmable, fishable waters for watershed residents and visitors,” a recent draft of the agreement noted. “Healthy fish and shellfish populations support a vibrant economy for a spectrum of related industries.”

Among the agreement’s stated goals is to “protect, restore and sustain fisheries and wildlife, as well as the network of land and water habitats they depend on, to promote a balanced and resilient ecosystem and support local economies and recreational opportunities.”

That includes establishing a sustainable blue crab fishery in Chesapeake Bay, with cross-jurisdictional coordination via the Blue Crab Advisory Report. The most recent winter dredge survey found that the Bay’s blue crab numbers were the second-smallest in recent history with an estimated population of 238 million. CBF called the finding a “red flag,” pointing to environmental factors as one reason for the decline. In response, the watershed agreement sets an outcome of maintaining blue crab abundance and target harvest rates.

The draft also lists several goals for fish habitat and passage improvements, including:

• Improving the quality and quantity of tidal shallow water fish habitat;
• Increase consideration of forage species in fishery management decision-making for predator fish;
• Improve the quality of non-tidal fish habitat;
• Improve 270 stream miles of waters impaired by acid mine drainage by 2040;
• Develop freshwater mussel conservation plans for 10 tributaries; and
• Restore passage and connectivity to at least 150 miles of aquatic habitat every two years. The agreement would also continue collaborative work on oyster restoration in the bay, setting a goal of restoring 2,000 acres of oyster reef habitat by 2040.

 

After criticizing an earlier draft of the agreement as “lacking,” the Chesapeake Bay Foundation said the revised version is a noted improvement. “This agreement isn’t perfect, but it is essential. For decades, we’ve seen time and again that progress only comes when we work together toward shared goals,” CBF Senior Policy Director Keisha Sedlacek said in a statement. “This December, the Bay states and federal partners must come together and formally renew their promise to restore the Bay, guided by the revised agreement. We will keep advocating for the policies, investments, and science to exceed goals for a healthy Bay – and hold leaders accountable if they fall short.”

The primary fisheries of interest in the Bay are oysters, crabs, Stripped Bass and Menhaden (by far the largest by dollars). Of these, only oysters can be said to have been improved during the previous iterations of the Bay diet. I don't see what they're doing that is going to make a big difference. But the money will get spent. 

The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Roll Tide up on time and under budget at The Other McCain.