Latest news with #MarylandDepartmentofNaturalResources
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
‘Extremely distressing' Chesapeake Bay blue crab populations call for curtailing harvest, experts say
Blue crab populations in the Chesapeake Bay took a sizable hit in 2025, marking a need for more cautious harvest regulations, some environmentalists say. Each winter, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science at William & Mary cooperate on a dredge survey to record the population of blue crabs. During the survey, biologists use dredge equipment to capture, measure, record and release blue crabs at 1,500 sites throughout the Chesapeake Bay from December through March. VIMS covers the entire Virginia portion of Chesapeake Bay, sampling more than 750 stations. This year, the survey found there are about 238 million blue crabs in the Chesapeake Bay, a decrease from last year's 317 million crabs. The decline was seen in pretty much all demographics, including adult male crabs at 26 million, adult female crabs at 108 million, and juvenile crabs at 103 million. According to Chesapeake Progress, a tool created to track and report the bay's restoration, a sustainable population must have at least 72 million females, and the ultimate goal is 196 million females. The Chesapeake Bay's health declines as extreme weather increases Blue crab population rebounds but remains below targets Blue catfish are invasive to the Chesapeake Bay. By eating them, Virginians can help save the bay. Crab populations can fluctuate since their success can depend on multiple factors. These include weather, the population of their predators, and the availability of their habitat, and often, populations can experience a 'boom-or-bust' cycle. Mandy Bromilow, blue crab program manager for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, said freezing temperatures earlier in the year likely had an impact on survivorship. She said this means crabs had a 'very high mortality rate,' and the results mark the second lowest population since the surveys began in 1990. The lowest population was reported in 2022. Chris Moore, the Virginia executive director for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, said this year's blue crabs survey is 'extremely distressing.' According to the foundation, the loss of critical crab habitat like underwater grasses and the rise of invasive predators like blue catfish can threaten blue crabs. Other factors like climate change and polluted runoff can also be detrimental for young and spawning crabs. 'Blue crabs are a staple on our plates, in our water and in our culture,' Moore said. 'We must protect them in order to ensure their important role in the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem and preserve sustainable harvests for the most valuable commercial fishery in the bay. Given the continued decline of males in the population, Virginia should look for ways to reduce harvest of male crabs — which has been a growing part of our crab harvest.' According to the Virginia Marine Resources Commission, located in Hampton, Virginia's adaptive approach to fisheries management 'continues to effectively address the highly dynamic nature of the Chesapeake Bay's blue crab population.' Last year, Virginia reduced its crab harvest from the bay by 18%, and the Potomac River Fisheries Commission reduced harvest by 14%. Maryland increased its 2024 harvest by 1%, and the combined result was a harvest reduction of about 7% across the bay. 'While this year's survey shows a decline in overall abundance, Virginia watermen have experienced good catch rates so far this season,' Jamie Green, a marine resources commissioner, said in a statement. 'These kinds of fluctuations are not unusual in a dynamic system like the Chesapeake Bay, and they reinforce why our adaptive management approach is so critical.' Next year, Virginia and Maryland researchers will complete a comprehensive stock assessment for blue crabs — the first time since 2011. While the dredge survey provides a snapshot in time, the comprehensive stock assessment provides a more well-rounded view of what factors are affecting blue crabs using years of data. Once the assessment is complete, marine life managers then use that data to regulate harvest rates. The assessment will be completed by March 2026. 'With the results of the stock assessment next year, we hope to have more insight on what could be contributing to the ongoing low juvenile recruitment and what we can do to support the Chesapeake Bay's blue crabs,' Bromilow said. 'Until then, we need to maintain caution in our management approach for blue crabs.' Eliza Noe,
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Residents shocked after unexpected creature wanders into backyard: 'The police don't want us to go outside'
A bear wandered into a backyard in Prince George's County, Maryland, forcing residents to take their Memorial Day plans indoors, NBC4 Washington reported. The young bear, approximately 18 months old, according to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, lounged in a tree in a backyard around noon. "We were going to the playground with my daughter. We canceled because the police don't want us to go outside," one resident said, per NBC4 Washington. The bear stayed in the tree until 3:30 p.m. Then, DNR officers relocated it to a wildlife management area. While some Langley Park residents thought the encounter was exciting and memorable, such occurrences reflect a broader pattern. Close encounters between humans and wildlife are becoming more frequent. The cause is habitat loss, and it's happening on a global scale. In 2024, the World Wildlife Fund reported a catastrophic 73% decline in wildlife populations worldwide between 1970 and 2020. Freshwater species (85%) suffered the steepest drops, followed by land (69%) and marine life (56%). These losses stem largely from habitat destruction, overharvesting, and changes to our climate, many of which are linked to human land use and food production systems. As urban development expands and forested areas shrink, wild animals are forced to search for food and shelter in suburban and residential areas. While the situation in Maryland ended peacefully, that is not always the case. Wildlife encounters not only put people at risk but also stress animals. Animals can get hurt or become disoriented and may face euthanasia by authorities. Should the government be paying people to hunt invasive species? Definitely Depends on the animal No way Just let people do it for free Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Globally, major restoration efforts are underway to reverse damage from decades of habitat destruction. Government initiatives and independent groups are working to revive ecosystems through reforestation, wetland recovery, and wildlife corridor development. Individuals can help by getting involved in local conservation efforts and staying informed about how urbanization impacts local ecosystems. Respecting wildlife, securing trash, and protecting green spaces are small but powerful ways to coexist with nature and prevent backyard surprises. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Yahoo
PHOTOS: Black bear travels to Herndon after traversing Maryland
HERNDON, Va. () — A black bear was spotted roaming the neighborhoods of Herndon on Monday — the latest in its adventure around the DMV. Neighbors in the Alabama Drive and Hillwood Court area woke up to a 'bear-y' shocking surprise. A large black bear with a tracking collar was spotted exploring people's yards. Black bear spotted in Bethesda area days after it was captured, relocated from Langley Park According to the Herndon Police Department, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources is tracking the male yearling. People should be cautious of the bear, give it some space, and do not approach, police said. Black bear spotted in Langley Park area on Memorial Day It was confirmed to DC News Now that this black bear was the same bear that was spotted traversing Maryland. On May 26, the bear was first seen hanging out in a tree in someone's yard in Prince George's County before he made his way to another backyard in Bethesda a week later. The bear was last seen in the 800 block of Elden Street. The block has been shut down in both directions as a result. Police said anyone who comes into conflict with the bear should call the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources at (855) 571-9003. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Biologists discover stunning turnaround in one of US' most critical oyster populations: 'We've seen a rebound'
After decades of population decline, Chesapeake Bay oysters are thriving again, the Washington Post reported. A vibrant oyster population is essential to water cleanliness and aquatic biodiversity. As one of nature's best natural filtration systems that remove sediments and pollutants, they filter as much as two gallons of water hourly. Their healthy reefs are also habitats for other species like striped blennies, American eels, skilletfish, and blue crabs, per Ocean Find Your Blue. However, overharvesting, disease, and environmental factors like drought and habitat decline have affected these aquatic species for decades. The rebound is a result of better ecological conditions and conservation work from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Maryland for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. Based on their research, conditions have allowed for more successful reproduction or "epic, generational spat sets," as Lynn Waller Fegley, Maryland Department of Natural Resources' director of fishing and boating services, told the Washington Post. Those spats, which refer to larvae that attach to hard surfaces as they develop into mature oysters, have not only increased in number but also in distribution through the bay. Maryland isn't the only DMV state to see thriving oysters again since Virginia's conservation effort allowed it to harvest one of the highest bushel amounts since the late 1980s — 700,000 of them. Reliable oyster harvesting affects local livelihoods, which is why the past unstable population caused some to leave the business due to fluctuations that made profits impossible. A 2020 report from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation stated that Maryland received about $9 million annually from oyster operations. In Virginia, one of the nation's top oyster producers, the state's economy gets $1.1 billion from seafood, and oysters are a major part of that, according to Virginia Tech. "In the last five years, we've seen a rebound," Allison Colden, executive director of Maryland for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, told the Washington Post. Other areas are also thriving with aquatic conservation — Cabo Pulmo in Mexico is seeing rebounding coral reefs, and an emergency hand-feeding program to help Florida manatees has been suspended as their food source, seagrass, has revived. Do you think America is in a housing crisis? Definitely Not sure No way Only in some cities Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Clean water that supports aquatic life and industry isn't something to take for granted. If these revivals remain steady, it marks progress toward a cleaner and safer planet for all. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Thousands flocked to Maryland state parks with new registration on holiday weekend
Thousands of visitors made reservations for Sandy Point State Park over the weekend, and Greenbrier State Park 'sold out' on Memorial Day, according to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. The busy weekend for waterfront activities was the first that required visitors to pre-register before entering the two parks. DNR spokesperson Gregg Bortz said that 'rollout of the new day-use reservation system went successfully,' with feedback from visitors being 'largely positive.' Sandy Point in Annapolis had just under 1,200 visitors Sunday and over 1,400 on Monday, according to the DNR. Over 300 people came to Greenbrier, in Washington County, on both days, running out of all 365 reservations available for Monday. The day-use system is in effect for the two parks on weekends and holidays through Labor Day, with the number of reservations available each day are set by management depending on parking and other park activities that day. Reservations can be made through the Maryland Park Service's online reservation system. Later in the summer, the day-use system is coming to North Point State Park in Edgemere as well as Point Lookout and Newtowne Neck in St. Mary's County. Have a news tip? Contact Dan Belson at dbelson@ on X as @DanBelson_ or on Signal as @danbels.62.
