• Bay 101
• Bay History
• The Bay Ecosystem
• Field Guide
• The Bay Watershed
• Bay FAQ
• Bay Glossary

Along the Chesapeake Bay's shoreline is an area of incredible biological activity: the shallows. The Bay's shallow waters extend from the shore to about 10 feet deep. Beyond the shoreline lie the open waters of the Chesapeake Bay: a wide, open area with channels that are more than 100 feet deep.

Shallow waters are home to an incredible variety of animals, including worms, clams, crabs, fish, birds and turtles. Many small fish and invertebrates seek refuge from predators in the shallows. In turn, larger fish and birds hunt for prey there.Bay grass beds are a critically important part of the shallows, providing shelter for blue crabs, young fish and sharks to hide from predators. Several species of migratory waterfowl depend on bay grasses for food.

The Bay's open waters are teeming with life, including fish, birds, invertebrates and aquatic mammals. They are a haven for migratory fish such as bluefish, cobia and mackerels. These large fish visit the Bay in summer to feast on menhaden, anchovies and other small fish and invertebrates. And, although you cannot see them, microscopic plankton float through open waters, forming the base of the Bay's food web.

In summer, both the shallows and open waters of the Bay become very warm, allowing harmful algae blooms to form. These can lead to low-oxygen "dead zones" that suffocate underwater life. In winter, animals that dwell in the Bay's shallow waters retreat to deeper channels, while hundreds of thousands of migratory birds stop on the Chesapeake's open waters to rest and feed.

Click on the images below to learn about some of the critters that live in the Chesapeake Bay's open and shallow waters.

Click on the images below to learn about some of the critters that live in the Chesapeake Bay's shallow waters.

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