The Chesapeake fishing industry holds tremendous commercial, cultural and historic value. Managing the fisheries for blue crabs, oysters, striped bass, shad and menhaden is also critical in restoring and protecting the population of these species and their important place in the ecosystem.
To improve fisheries management, Bay Program partners are developing ecosystem-based plans. This type of comprehensive approach involves three components:
- Actions that address a single species
- A focus on multispecies interactions
- Consideration of the entire ecosystem
Improving water quality and restoring habitats are also part of this management approach.
Learn more about fisheries management.
These efforts focus on promoting a shift from a traditional management approach that looks solely at single species to one that recognizes interactions between multiple species and environmental stressors, such as low dissolved oxygen levels (ecosystem-based). Success is measured by milestones necessary to achieve that shift, not by an assessment of fishing stocks.
Long-term trend
N/A –- data for all component indicators have only been collected for four years.
Short-term trend (10-year trend)
N/A –- data for all component indicators have only been collected for four years:
- 2005: 49.8 percent
- 2006: 50 percent
- 2007: 50 percent
- 2008: 50.8 percent
Change from previous year (2007-2008)
The index score increased from 50 percent to 50.8 percent of goal achieved.
Ecosystem-based Fishery Management Plans
The most up-to-date monitoring and tracking data gathered by Bay Program partners are used to provide an assessment of fisheries management efforts relative to goals adopted by the Bay Program partners.
Percent achievement values for each indicator assessed in the Managing Fisheries category were averaged to create the index score.
For more information contact:
Nita Sylvester at 800-968-7229 ext. 711
Chesapeake Bay Program Office