Publications

The 2026 benchmark stock assessment was finalized in June 2026 and included data through 2023. This report summarizes the completed stock assessment update, which was conducted in July 2026, incorporating Winter Dredge Survey data through March 2026 and other survey and harvest data through 2025. 

View document [PDF, 844.0 KB] 2026 Chesapeake Bay Blue Crab Stock Assessment Update Report

This report provides an analysis of Maryland's 2025 oyster restoration success.

View document [PDF, 7.8 MB] 2025 Maryland Oyster Reef Monitoring Report

This report summarizes the peer review of the 2026 Chesapeake Bay Blue Crab Stock Assessment.

View document [PDF, 444.4 KB] Summary Report of the Chesapeake Bay Blue Crab Stock Assessment Peer Review

This report explores how, why and where marine protected areas are designated, using the Chesapeake Bay as a leading case study.

View document [PDF, 14.6 MB] Marine Protected Areas and the Chesapeake Bay

This report provides refinements and clarifications for the previously published Chesapeake Bay water quality criteria assessment procedure.

View document [PDF, 677.7 KB] STAC Criteria Addendum Review: Ambient Water Quality Criteria for Dissolved Oxygen, Water Clarity and Chlorophyll a for the Chesapeake Bay and Its Tidal Tributaries: 2017 Technical Addendum

Conclusions reached by a peer review panel convened to review two reports related to the state of Virginia’s numeric water quality criteria for chlorophyll-a in the tidal portion of the James River.

View document [PDF, 1.8 MB] Peer Review for the James River Chlorophyll-a Criteria Re-evaluation

A report generated by the Environmental Policy Innovation Center (EPIC) documenting the landscape of free technical assistance available to local governments across the watershed to advance the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement.

View document [PDF, 12.6 MB] Local Government Technical Assistance Inventory and Gap Analysis Project

This report summarizes the 2026 Winter Dredge Survey and 2025 harvest data discussed at the May 13, 2026, Chesapeake Bay Stock Assessment Committee meeting.

View document [PDF, 979.8 KB] 2026 Blue Crab Advisory Report

This report describes the results of the 2026 Chesapeake Bay Blue Crab Stock Assessment. It is organized by the Terms of Reference that were developed by the management agencies and approved by the Chesapeake Bay Stock Assessment Committee.

View document [PDF, 8.0 MB] 2026 Chesapeake Bay Blue Crab Stock Assessment

This report summarizes two parallel STAC workshops held in DuBois, Pennsylvania, and Westminster, Maryland, to discuss the strategic implementation of priority best management practices to successfully recolonize, recover or repatriate brook trout populations.

View document [PDF, 4.2 MB] Blueprint for Building Partnerships and Recommendations for Scaling Brook Trout Restoration in Stronghold and Persistent Patches