At the Slower Maryland Chronic, Lusby Resident Reports Mass Rockfish Die-Off at Calvert Cliffs Beach
A longtime Lusby resident and candidate for Calvert County Commissioner has reported observing multiple mass mortality events along the shoreline of Calvert Cliffs State Park in February 2026, documenting large numbers of dead mature rockfish, blue crabs, double-crested cormorants, seagulls, and other marine life between the Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant and the Cove Point LNG facility.
Patrick E. Flaherty, who has hiked the park nearly daily for 15 years, including through severe winter conditions, first noted the incidents in February. On February 23 alone, he captured 118 photographs of the affected area. The die-offs involved rockfish measuring 25–30 inches or larger, along with substantial numbers of crabs and birds, including approximately 8–10 double-crested cormorants and various seagulls.
Flaherty forwarded details to the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE), which responded promptly and initiated an investigation. He plans to follow up this week with the assigned field investigator for any updates on findings or potential causes. He emphasized the significance of these events given rockfish—Maryland’s state fish—already experiencing serious population declines due to factors like habitat challenges and fishing pressures. The incidents raise concerns for commercial watermen, recreational anglers, and broader Chesapeake Bay ecosystem health.
The affected shoreline lies near the Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant and the Dominion Energy Cove Point LNG export terminal, a stretch now under consideration for a proposed major Amazon data center development. Flaherty provided a press release outlining his observations and offered to share high-resolution photos for review. He included sample images showing dead rockfish and crabs next to a dog collar radio controller measuring 7.5 inches for scale.
No public statements from MDE or other agencies have confirmed the cause of the reported die-offs as of March 3, 2026. Maryland’s Fish Kill Investigation Program, managed by MDE, handles reports of dead or distressed aquatic life, attributing such events to factors like natural water chemistry changes, low oxygen levels, biological shifts, pollution, or other human-related activities. Reports can be directed to MDE at 800-285-8195 during business hours.
Right after the ice left the beach, Georgia and I walked the beach, and saw a large number of sea ducks, Surf Scoters and Bluebills dead on the beach. Georgia counted 16 dead birds between the harbor, and the boat ramp at Calvert Beach. Curiously, none that I saw were the two species of sea ducks we commonly see offshore, the Buffleheads and Old Squaw (yes, I'm that old and stubborn). I did see a single large dead striper, but that doesn't strike me as that unusual.
Initially, I was concerned that it might be bird flu hitting the ducks, but the fact that it encompasses so many different and unrelated animals makes me suspect it was a consequence of the extreme cold that we had in late Feb. Why so many more other animals washed up on Calvert Cliffs beach a few miles south I'll leave open for speculation; I don't understand.
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