DECLINE OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY OYSTER POPULATION - A CENTURY OF HABITAT DESTRUCTION AND OVERFISHING

The oyster population in the Maryland portion of Chesapeake Bay, USA, has declined by more than 50-fold since the early part of this century . The paper presents evidence that the mechanical destruction of habit at and stock overfishing have been important factors in the decline, e ven though it is commonly thought that 'water quality' and, more recen tly, oyster diseases are critical. Quantitative analyses show that the long-term decline of oysters largely results from habitat loss associ ated with intense fishing pressure early in this century, and stock ov erfishing from early in the century through recent times. Furthermore, the major ecological effects on Chesapeake Bay occurred well before W orld War II, before industrialization and the reported prevalence of d isease. To effect the recovery of the ailing Chesapeake Bay oyster sto ck, a 4-point management strategy is proposed.