Chesapeake Bay Perspectives Book Series

The sediments of Chesapeake Bay harbor a record of the Bay's ecology, from its "natural functioning" thousands of years before European colonization through post-Colonial settlement and the continuing forest clearance throughout the watershed. Translating that record into a history of ecological… [more]

This monograph is a major assessment of the state of key species in the Chesapeake Bay — the eastern oyster, blue crab, striped bass, and Atlantic menhaden — and of the prospects for shifting from single-species fisheries management to multispecies and ecosystem based fisheries management (EBFM… [more]

In the first issue of this monograph series, Chesapeake Perspectives, cultural anthropologist Dr. Michael Paolisso provides his perspectives on environmentalism and the Chesapeake. Building on his studies of diverse communities—from watermen to farmers to scientists—he presents a unique view of… [more]

William Matuszeski examines efforts to restore the Chesapeake Bay and what is at times an uncomfortable relationship between scientists and managers. He notes how "sound science" can be used as a compass to guide restoration efforts or as a label to pay lip service. In some quarters, he says,… [more]

Erve Chambers questions the often expressed view that Bay cultures are "dying." According to Chambers, a characteristic that most defines the iconic Eastern Shore watermen is their resilience, their capacity to make do. Watermen and their families pass down a range of skills, the daily lessons… [more]