Fish Habitat Action Team Publications

The STAC Workshop, "Striped Bass Survey Assessment and Habitat Connections," convened February 2025 to investigate the environmental and ecological factors contributing to the low recruitment of striped bass. The workshop aimed to review current survey approaches and identify priority science needs, supporting the management of this marquee sportfish, which is vital to both the recreational fishing industry and commercial harvest along the Atlantic Coast. The workshop focused on exploring research needs, sharing insights and fostering collaboration among participants to support effective management strategies.

View document [PDF, 1.3 MB] Striped Bass Survey Assessment and Habitat Connections

This report presents methods for a pilot assessment of the condition of fish habitats in both the estuarine and inland portions of Chesapeake Bay rivers.

View document [PDF, 7.3 MB] Pilot Framework for Fish Habitat Assessments Across Tidal and Non-Tidal Waters in the Patuxent River Basin

This report is a culmination of close to a decade of research to assess whether the status of forage species found in the Chesapeake Bay can support key predator populations.

View document [PDF, 14.1 MB] Forage Status and Trends Report for the Chesapeake Bay

This report summarizes expert feedback on the potential structure of a pilot framework for fish habitat assessment.

View document [PDF, 13.0 MB] Recommendations for Conducting Fish Habitat Assessments in Tidal Waters of the Chesapeake Bay

This report is the result of efforts to quantify the extent of suitable habitats for four key forage fishes in the Chesapeake Bay.

View document [PDF, 4.4 MB] Forage Fish Habitat Suitability Model Report

This report summarizes efforts to synthesize shoreline impacts on forage species and propose a threshold for shoreline hardening.

View document [PDF, 4.6 MB] Threshold Effects of Altered Shorelines and Other Stressors on Forage Species in the Chesapeake Bay

The final report for a GIT-funded study compiling and evaluating available data for a Chesapeake Bay regional fish habitat assessment.

View document [PDF] Inventory & Evaluation of Environmental and Biological Response Data for Fish Habitat Assessment

This report summarizes the proceedings of a workshop to identify the necessary information and analytical approaches needed to assess the condition and vulnerability of fish habitat in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

View document [PDF, 2.8 MB] Factors Influencing the Headwaters, Nontidal, Tidal and Mainstem Fish Habitat Function

This study evaluated environmental, temporal and spatial patterns of forage taxa and predator consumption in the Chesapeake Bay.

View document [PDF, 11.1 MB] Environmental, Spatial and Temporal Patterns in Chesapeake Bay Forage Populations

A list of fish habitat-related datasets, maps and tools.

View document [PDF, 152.3 KB] Inventory of Fish Habitat Spatial Data Tools