Keystone Species Workshop - Session 2

Ecosystem-Based Fisheries Management, Invasives and Endangered

Keystone Species Workshop Series

A Workshop Series for Environmental Educators

The Chesapeake Bay is known for the abundance of fish and shellfish that have made the Bay their home throughout history.  Today, environmental and other pressures placed upon Bay species, their populations and the health of those populations may be changing the complex trophic interactions within the Bay system.  These pressures are coming from not only harvest, but changes in land use, expanding human populations, invasive species, disease, and more.

The scientific community is constantly trying to better understand these important species and the way they interact with each other and the broader environment. This workshop series will bring together scientists and educators to learn about and discuss the history, current understanding,  and future outlook for important (keystone) plants and animals within the James River and Chesapeake Bay.

Session 2 Highlights:

• What is ecosystem based fisheries management and how is it being used to manage important Bay species, such as striped bass?
• How do invasive plant and animal species, such as Blue Catfish impact the James River and Chesapeake Bay?  How do invasives get here and how do we manage these populations
• What threatened and endangered species make the James River and the Chesapeake home? What is being done to study, protect and restore these speceis.

Workshop Goals

• Participants will develop an understanding of fisheries sciences in the Chesapeake Bay region;
• Participants will develop a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness of organisms within the Chesapeake Bay;
• Provide participants with access to, and knowledge of tools for exploring fisheries related issues;
• Provide participants with access to, and knowledge of quality existing curricula about fisheries topics;
• Cultivate hands – on/field-based activities for illustrating (conducting) fisheries science in the Chesapeake; and
• Provide the opportunity for educators and scientists to interact on topics related to fisheries science and education.

Workshop Format

The workshops will take place at Virginia Commonweath Univeristy, Rice Center near Richmond, VA, and is a partnership between VCU, the VA Department of Environmental Quality, and NOAA's Evironmental Science Training Center.

The workshop will be about six hours long. If you are interested in participating, or have questions please contact Bart Merrick, Page Hutchison or Anne Wright

More information on the workshop series

Register Now!