Stories by Kim Couranz
Kim Couranz is Communications Specialist at the NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office, where she writes about fisheries science, data and observations, Bay education efforts, oyster restoration and much more. While she graduated from Brown University with a double concentration in international relations and Russian language, now she enjoys communicating about the Bay. Away from the office, she is an internationally ranked sailboat racer and recreational runner.
Annual blue crab report highlights need to maintain focus on female, juvenile blue crabs
July 2, 2024Overall population holds steady; population of juveniles grows slightly but remains low
Read story![Blue crab on a boat in the foreground with two researchers in winter jackets in the background.](https://d18lev1ok5leia.cloudfront.net/chesapeakebay/images/_492x328_crop_center-center_none/jul_2_24_1800-01-9E3A6789.jpg)
NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office awards its 2,000th certificate to trained environmental educators
May 30, 2024Online course trains educators to develop Meaningful Watershed Education Experiences
Read story![Three kids inspect water samples.](https://d18lev1ok5leia.cloudfront.net/chesapeakebay/images/_492x328_crop_center-center_none/may_30_24_1800-01-9E3A5860.jpg)
New report investigates how the Bay's forage base is changing over time
February 8, 2024Bay Program partners release Forage Status and Trends Report
Read story![A waterman on a workboat wearing yellow waders and blue and white gloves inserts an orange plastic tag into the mouth of a striped bass.](https://d18lev1ok5leia.cloudfront.net/chesapeakebay/images/_492x328_crop_center-center_none/feb_7_24_1800-02-20200627_3144.jpg)
40 years of educating Chesapeake Bay stewards
September 22, 2023NOAA plays a key role in the Bay Program’s environmental education efforts
Read story![Sixth-grade students wade through a shallow creek, carrying small nets to sample invertebrates.](https://d18lev1ok5leia.cloudfront.net/chesapeakebay/images/_492x328_crop_center-center_none/sep_22_23_1800-01-9E3A6442.jpg)
Chesapeake Bay oyster reef restoration acreage surpasses two square miles
July 21, 20232,300 acres of oyster habitat are set to be restored by 2025
Read story![Oyster shells piles onto a boat.](https://d18lev1ok5leia.cloudfront.net/chesapeakebay/images/_492x328_crop_center-center_none/jul_17_23_1800-01-5K1A2581.jpg)
Scientists encourage resource managers to focus on female, juvenile blue crabs
July 6, 2023Overall population climbed this year, but analysis suggests vigilance is needed
Read story![](https://d18lev1ok5leia.cloudfront.net/chesapeakebay/images/_492x328_crop_center-center_none/jun_30_23_1800-01-20141027-IMG_0398.jpg)
40 years of dedication to Chesapeake Bay oysters—and their many benefits
May 25, 2023NOAA’s role in advancing oyster habitat restoration in the Chesapeake Bay
Read story![A crane loads oyster shells onto a boat.](https://d18lev1ok5leia.cloudfront.net/chesapeakebay/images/_492x328_crop_center-center_none/may_16_23_1800-01-5K1A2489.jpg)
New buoys to track dissolved oxygen in the Bay every 10 minutes, top to bottom
May 12, 2023Tracking dissolved oxygen helps us understand where wildlife is threatened
Read story![A short yellow buoy floats in dark open water.](https://d18lev1ok5leia.cloudfront.net/chesapeakebay/images/_492x328_crop_center-center_none/may_12_23_1800-03-DSC_2510.jpg)
Bay scientists evaluate reasons for the blue crab’s population decrease
April 7, 2023Invasive fish, disease, warming waters and more are seen as threats to blue crabs
Read story![Blue crab on the muddy floor of the Bay.](https://d18lev1ok5leia.cloudfront.net/chesapeakebay/images/_492x328_crop_center-center_none/apr_7_23_1800-01-20200821-5K1A7905.jpg)
National environmental education program with Chesapeake roots celebrates 20 years
December 9, 2022B-WET helps deliver on Chesapeake Bay Program education goals
Read story![Teacher shows antlers to students by a stream in winter.](https://d18lev1ok5leia.cloudfront.net/chesapeakebay/images/_492x328_crop_center-center_none/dec_9_22_1800-01-20160323-IMG_8835.jpg)