Making the Connection Between Land Use and Fisheries: Why the Chesapeake Bay?

Making the connection between land use and fisheries: Why the Chesapeake Bay?

The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in North America creating over 50,000 jobs in the recreational and commercial fishing industries and providing over five billion dollars to the national economy. In addition to providing essential habitat for a multitude of marine and anadromous species, the watershed is also home to more than 17 million people and expanding by about 150,000 new people each year. Within the watershed there are more than 6.5 million acres of farmland producing commodities for a wide range of national consumers. The unique intersection between agriculture, population expansion, and active commercial and recreational fisheries poses a challenge to managers, planners, and stakeholders. This presentation will introduce these challenges and stress the regional importance of making the connection between land use and the sustainability of local fisheries in the Chesapeake Bay.