Water is life. In the Chesapeake Bay region, it’s also a livelihood. From fishing to tourism, local businesses depend on clean water in rivers, streams, and the Bay. Hear from a charter boat captain who makes his living on the James River, learn about the growing oyster farming industry in Maryland and Virginia, and find out how the Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership is providing an economic boost to tree nurseries and other businesses in Pennsylvania. Then, take a deep dive into the Bay’s economically important fisheries. And if you’re headed out on the water yourself, be sure to check out our safe fish handling tips for responsible catch-and-release!
Video: Catching Big Blues
Recreational fishing supports thousands of jobs in the Bay region, contributing hundreds of millions of dollars to the economy every year. Capt. John Garland runs Screaming Reels Fishing Charters, going after invasive blue catfish on the James River near Richmond—one of many small businesses that depend on the Bay and its rivers!
Planting Seeds for Success
The Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership’s goal of planting 10 million trees in Pennsylvania by the end of 2025 will take many hands and many trees. By forward contracting with growers to supply trees for the next two years, CBF is expanding the diversity of trees planted and giving businesses an economic boost.
Video: Oyster Farming Grows
Oyster farming—the practice of cultivating oysters for food—is a growing part of Maryland and Virginia's economies. Get a quick rundown on the economic value of this industry, how it benefits the health of the Bay, and how eating farmed oysters can be good for the planet.
Video: Fisheries, the Bounty of the Bay
CBF's Brock Environmental Center Learning Series presents an exploration of the Bay’s iconic (and economically important) fisheries, from shellfish aquaculture to blue crabs. Delve into this timely topic with our fisheries scientists to find out how water quality, climate change, and management all affect the abundance of theBay.
Safe Fish Handling
Did you know about nine percent of rockfish that are caught and released by fishermen still die from stress or injury? Fish are even more likely to die when they are already stressed by poor environmental conditions. But by using these best practices, you can help increase fish survival rates.
What You Can Do
- Help support local oyster farmers through our Oyster Pop-up Shops, offered in partnership with the Chesapeake Oyster Alliance.
- Register for our upcoming webinar on July 15, The Chesapeake Clean Water Blueprint: A Model to Reduce Global Dead Zones?
- Bring the Bay to your next Zoom meeting by downloading and using your favorite Bay image.
- Like what you see? Sign up to have this delivered right to your e-mail box as our weekly Save the Bay e-newsletter—a roundup of uplifting Bay stories, inspirational videos, helpful teaching resources, and much more.
- Help us continue to bring the Bay to you at home each week. Now through June 30, your gift to save the Bay will be worth double thanks to a generous matching gift from our friends at The Orokawa Foundation!
