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For the Bay to be considered restored, there must be healthy and abundant fish and shellfish populations. Blue crabs, oysters, striped bass, shad and menhaden are some of the Bay’s most iconic species. These fish and shellfish are an essential part of the region’s commercial fisheries, recreational activities, and cultural and culinary identity. They also play critical roles in the Bay’s ecosystem and require clean water, ample aquatic habitat and properly managed fisheries to be healthy and reproduce.

However, the indicators in this section reflect that the Chesapeake’s fish and shellfish suffer from polluted water, lack of habitat and disease. They also face other challenges such as overharvesting and lack of food.

Learn more about fisheries harvest and fisheries management.

The Bay’s fish and shellfish abundance is measured with five indicators:

• Blue Crab Abundance
• Native Oyster Abundance
• Striped Bass Abundance
• Shad Abundance
• Juvenile Menhaden Abundance

Quantitative restoration goals have been set for four of these indicators. When all of the goals are reached, it should mean restored fish and shellfish abundance.

Long-term trend

N/A -- data for all component indicators have only been collected for nine years.

Short-term trend (10-year trend)

Between 2000 and 2008 there was no significant change (from 48.16 percent in 2000 to 48.01 percent of goal achieved in 2008)

Change from previous year (2007-2008)

Fish and ShellfishIndex score decreased from 50.43 percent to 48.01 percent of goal achieved.

The most up-to-date monitoring data gathered by Bay Program partners are used to provide a scientifically based assessment of the Bay’s fish and shellfish abundance.

The Fish and Shellfish Index incorporates scores for the following indicators:

• Blue Crab Abundance
• Native Oyster Abundance
• Striped Bass Abundance
• Shad Abundance

Percent achievement values for each indicator assessed in this category were averaged to create the index score.

• Values for indicators whose goal achievement status could not be quantified this year will be incorporated into an average for the index in future reports.
• Oyster and striped bass biomass were updated in 2008 using 2007 data (2008 data will not be available until 2010). The 2007 values were used to calculate the 2008 index score.
• Values that exceed 100 percent (crab: 1990-93; striped bass: 2000-2007) were converted to 100 percent for the calculation of this index score.

• Blue Crab
• Oyster
• Striped Bass
• Shad
• Menhaden

For more information contact: Nita Sylvester at 800-968-7229 ext. 711