Are fish disappearing?
Some fish in the Bay region are in serious trouble because of overharvesting, contaminated spawning grounds and loss of habitat. For example, because of extremely low abundance, there’s a moratorium in the Bay on American Shad in the Chesapeake region. There’s also a 40-year moratorium in place on Atlantic Sturgeon. Meanwhile, Shortnose Sturgeon is considered endangered. The state and federal agencies that manage fish stocks are working hard to stem the decline of Bay species. In many cases, restoration programs are in place and ongoing, including restocking programs for the American Shad in Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania.
