Morgan PEARL Hosts National Science Foundation Workshop on Chesapeake Fisheries

The Morgan State University Patuxent Environmental and Aquatic Research Laboratory (MSU PEARL) hosted a National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded workshop titled Chesapeake Fisheries: From Oysters to Economics, on Aug. 28–29, 2017. The invitation-only workshop was attended by internationally recognized researchers from leading academic and government institutions, including Morgan State University, Rutgers University, the University of Maryland, the University of Alaska, Australian National University and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Service. The workshop focused on key Chesapeake Bay fisheries management issues, such as blue crab and oyster population levels, the economics of oyster reef restoration, and oyster harvesting regulations.

Of particular note was a robust discussion among participants about the appropriateness and effectiveness of current fisheries stock assessment practices and the potential benefits of alternative approaches. The group is planning a follow-up event to continue examination of fisheries stock assessment and other issues that are vital for sustaining the Chesapeake ecosystem, on which Maryland stakeholders and affected communities rely.

“Morgan State PEARL appreciated the opportunity to host this workshop and was excited about the breadth and depth of fisheries management issues highlighted,” said Scott Knoche, Ph.D., interim director of MSU PEARL. “We are looking forward to continued collaboration with workshop participants to examine and address stock assessment challenges and other critical fisheries management issues in the Chesapeake Bay and beyond.”

MSU PEARL, part of Morgan’s Division of Research and Economic Development (D-RED), is located near the Patuxent River (part of the Chesapeake Bay watershed) in Saint Leonard, Md. The mission of the PEARL is to provide society with the knowledge to solve its environmental challenges through research, education and economic development.