Ecosystem-Based Fisheries Management — A Cooperative Project

Maryland Sea Grant, in coordination with state and federal agency partners and research institutions, is supporting the development of a new operational format for ecosystem-based fishery management in the Chesapeake Bay. This project will lead to the adoption of five ecosystem-based fishery management plans (EBFMPs) which move beyond traditional single species management plans to consider the interconnections between species, their physical and living environments, and human influences. The major ecosystem interconnections between the five key species are pictured below.

Striped bass will serve as the pilot study for the new initiative followed by blue crabs, alosines, Eastern oysters, and menhaden. Integral to the success of this program is a bottom-up approach to management focusing on stakeholder input and ownership over the resulting plans. Therefore, this new approach concentrates on fully engaging Bay managers, scientists, watermen, and others in developing EBFMPs for the Chesapeake Bay. Maryland Sea Grant's role in this process is to provide an unbiased platform which facilitates interactions among these groups. The diagram below illustrates the proposed operational structure for ecosystem-based fishery management in the Chesapeake Bay.