Wait a second!
More handpicked essays just for you.
More handpicked essays just for you.
Overview of the history of Chesapeake Bay pollution essay
Overview of the history of Chesapeake Bay pollution essay
Impacts of pollution on the chesapeake bay
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
If someone is a native of Maryland, they know exactly what one is talking about when the Maryland Blue Crab is brought up into a discussion. In 1989, the Maryland Blue Crab, scientifically known as the Callinectes sapidus Rathbun, was designated the State Crustacean (Blue Crab, Maryland State Crustacean). This crab is not only a key component on the ecological system of the Chesapeake Bay, but also a key economical component of commercial fisheries; although not endangered, the issue of maintaining the population of the species is critical to the Chesapeake Bay and also its inhabitants.
Blue crabs have the highest value of any Chesapeake Bay commercial fishery; in 2000, the blue crab harvest was valued at a staggering $55 million (Blue Crabs – Chesapeake Bay Program). For Maryland locals, the importance of crabs during the summer months is bigger than any other issues; summer days are spent at picnic tables picking away at the hard shells of the steamed morsels. During these months, commercial fisherman are up before the sun rises, riding along checking their lines and baskets in the bay in hopes of a good yield of the crustaceans to bring back to sell later that day. In fact, an estimated one third of the nation’s catch of blue crabs come directly from Maryland’s own Chesapeake Bay (Blue Crabs – Chesapeake Bay Program).Therefore, sustaining the population of crabs is essential in the success of the businesses that rely on the income from selling them, and also to the people who consume the crabs frequently. At the same time, the constant pressure on harvesting the crabs for income has created an issue. Since the early 90’s, yield of crabs has decreased, resulting in an increase of efforts to meet the demands of the business of co...
... middle of paper ...
...unced as off limit to commercial fishing to help aid in the rehabilitation of the population of the crustacean (Blue Crabs – Chesapeake Bay Program). Scientists and environmentalists are constantly fighting to prevent run-off and counteract the nitrogen jumps. With coming years, hopefully better ways to save the crab will be discovered.
The Maryland Blue Crab is an essential part of the Chesapeake Bay; from the food chain of the creatures in the water, to the business side of the thriving demand for the crab during the hot summer months, but there is no denying the fact that the crab is just as important alive as it is when it is being harvested by local fisherman. By becoming more informed of the impact the crab has on Maryland’s bay and on the people who live around it, people can take bigger steps in making sure the crab will always be around for decades to come.
The Chesapeake Bay means ‘Great shellfish Bay’ in Algonquin(Chesapeake Bay Foundation 2010). The bay was once plentiful with Oysters dating back...
However, the Boiling Crab has already penetrated the market in California with the proper level of price. The restaurant business cannot charge the price far more different than the others because in the same level of restaurant, the clients will focus on the range of price before choosing it. Moreover, the Boiling Crab is the seafood, so the market price of seafood, such as shrimp, lobster, crab is very fluctuate depended on how difficult to find each item at that time. As you can see from the Boiling Crab menu, these items will be charged according to the market price at that time. Referring to the appendix 1, I compare price of food from many restaurants with the same kind of food, but it turns out that the level of price is pretty much the same between the Boiling Crab and the Kickin’crab.
The Chesapeake Bay is the nation’s largest estuary with six major tributaries, the James, the Potomac, the Susquehanna, the Patuxent, the York, and the Rappahannock Rivers, feeding into the bay from various locations in Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and the District of Columbia (Chemical Contaminants in the Chesapeake Bay – Workshop Discussion 1). These areas depend on the Bay as both an environmental and an economic resource. Throughout the last 15 years the Chesapeake Bay has suffered from elevated levels of pollution. Nitrogen and phosphorous from wastewater treatment plants, farmland, air pollution, and development all lead to reduced water clarity and lowered oxygen levels, which harm fish, crabs, oysters and underwater grasses (Key Commission Issues 1). There are other types of pollution in the bay such as toxic chemicals, but because nutrient pollution is the most significant and most widespread in the Bay its effects are the most harmful to fisheries. Nitrogen and phosphorous fuel algal blooms which cloud the water and block sunlight from reaching underwater grass beds that provide food and habitat for waterfowl, juvenile fish, blue crabs, and other species (Blankenship 11-12). Algae plays a vital role in the food chain by providing food for small fish and oysters. However, when there is an overabundance of algae it dies, sinks to the bottom of the Bay, and decomposes in such a manner that depletes the oxygen levels of the Bay (11). The reduced oxygen levels in the Bay reduce the carrying capacity of the environment and these “dead areas” sometimes kill off species that can not migrate to other areas of the Bay, such as oysters (11). Increased abundance of algal blooms also led to the overabundance of harmful and toxic algae species and microbes such as the microbe Pfiesteria, which was responsible in 1997 for eating fish alive and making dozens of people sick (12). The heightened awareness of diseases that can be contracted through consumption of contaminated fish also has an economic impact. Therefore, the excess levels of nitrogen and phosphorous have fueled an overabundance of algal blooms, which has reduced water clarity and lowered oxygen levels, affecting many species within the bay and ultimately the industries that rely on these species.
The Chesapeake Bay is a large estuary located on the east coast of the United States. The bay is over 200 miles long and goes through Delaware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. The bay has much to offer the locals. Many locals have made a career out of harvesting the bay's sea food. The bay's harvest and many of its other attractions bring tourists and in turn revenue for the area. Oysters and blue crab are a big part of the culture in the bay area. However, these organisms are in danger and need help.
The Chesapeake Bay is a large bay that stretches from Maryland to Virginia, fed by many rivers and streams that run from as far north as New York to Virginia and West Virginia.5 It is home to a plethora of plants and fish species, many of which the people of the area fish for food and supplies. The pollution present in the Chesapeake Bay is affecting the livelihood of both the fishermen and the fish – the less the fishermen haul due to the death of the species they catch, the less they get paid – and as consumers of these fish, we are consuming the toxins as well.
The tidal salt marshes make vital contributions to the ecosystem in Jamaica Bay. The marshes help spawning processes and are primary nursery for species important to both recreational and commercial uses, providing protection from storm surges, and also removing pollutants and other toxic substances, which as a result, acts as a natural filter, improving the water quality in the bay. Salt marshes are low lying, grasslands that periodically become overwhelmed and drained by high tides. The fish and shellfish nurseries and are also a feeding ground for various species of wildlife in the ecosystem. They support a variety of invertebrates such as mussels, shrimp, oysters and horseshoe crabs that are key elements of the estuarine ecosystem. However, throughout the past few decades, the salt marshes at Jamaica Bay has significantly declined which created a tremendous negative impact on the general public in addition to the deterioration on the living habitats in the area. Many factors contribute to the decline such as sediment depletion, neighboring developments, increased tidal ranges, and especially nitrogen loading from untreated sewage. Although the damages done were unintentional, much of it was occurred due to negligence. As awareness has increased, restoration efforts have escalated as well as various groups respond well to mitigate the losses.
...on is low due to agricultural runoff, disease and over harvesting. However there is still a future for the bays oysters, people have come together and made a plan to save The Chesapeake Bay. With time the bay will be restored to what it once was.
Mytilus Californianus are known as California mussels that form dense mussel beds and considered one of the most abundant intertidal organisms. They are found clustered together in the upper-middle zone on the open coast. Mytilus Californianus attach themselves to rocks by byssal threads. They have geographic range from the Aleutian Islands of Alaska to northern Mexico of Baja California (Morris et al. 1980). “It provides habitat, refuge, and provides food for over 300 other species” including human (rust, 2011). For long period of time, human use these mussels as a food source. These mussels can grow up to 130 to 150mm in size but the process usually is attained in three years. Scientists
Researchers at the Alfred- Wegener- Institute for Polar and Marine Research in Bremerhaven, Germany have recently published a peer-reviewed article about the effects of temperature and ocean acidification on the calcium content of young spider crab larvae, Hyas araneus. Kathleen Walther, Franz J. Sartoris, and Hans O. Pörtner decided to research these effects to determine if the continued temperature and acidification of the oceans will have a negative effect on the spider crabs development. Furthermore, the researchers measured the calcium content in each larvae of crab at different temperatures and CO2 content. For the spider crabs, the calcium levels they have are crucial for development of their exoskeleton. Lower levels of calcium in the crab could be detrimental to the development of it because of
Explanation: Develop a brochure to help the public understand all about the Chesapeake Bay (history, economic importance, environmental importance, pollution, solutions)
Species such as the blue crab, oyster, and atlantic menhaden are three main commercial fishing outputs in the Chesapeake bay, but the recent algae blooms are devastating the harvest numbers of several different species. According to the oyster company of Virginia, over 20 million bushels of oysters were harvested every year during the peak of the oyster rush of the mid 1880’s. These numbers
Are you a big fan of seafood? Delicious creamy crab cakes,golden under the sunlight and sprinkled with chives. Unlike most crab cakes, this one’s aroma could be smelled from miles and miles around. Or maybe seafood just isn't for you. Then you could take a trip way back, so long ago and visit historical landmarks and historical people. Also known as America in Miniature, Maryland contains many surprises. Full of fun facts and unique places, Maryland is the place for you.
To start off, the horseshoe crab lived 200 million years before dinosaurs. What’s astounding is that while dinosaurs have become extinct, the horseshoe crab is still alive and well today (Horseshoe Crab:Saint Louis Zoo). Next is that it might not seem like it, but this critter is actually a predator. The crab likes to feed on things such as small clams, crustaceans, worms, algae, and other animals (Steel). Furthermore this animal is also known as the king crab. Finally the male horseshoe crab is actually shorter than the female the crab. The male is about 14-15 inches long from head to tail, while the female is measures in to be 18-19 inches long (Horseshoe Crab
...tlanticcity.com>. Irwin, Neil. "Environmental groups pressure chefs on menus." Washington Post June 19, 2002. April 26, 2011 Miller, Michael. "Group says it won't move oyster farm to Delaware Bay" Press of Atlantic City, The. August 3, 2010. Press of Atlantic City online. Atlantic Cape Community College, Mays Landing, April 26, 2011 National Sea Grant Law Center. California Enacts Sustainable Oceans Act. 2006. University of Mississippi April 28, 2011. Naylor, Rosamon L.
Fish, they have been the subject of their own fish genocide, Each year consistently advancing in technology to hunt the remaining percentage of this dwindling vertebrate. A local maine Lobsterman visited our class to talk about what laws and regulations have been placed to try and refurbish the population. The lobsterman talked about the decline of fish over the years he’s been in the fishing industry. To my surprise the Gulf of Maine actually has had many regulations. One of the recent is implementing a maximum of three mackerel for every trip, and cod fish now must be at least 21 inches or be thrown back. These regulations show us what is left of the nature population that once inhabited the gulf. They say you could walk on water because there was so