Chesapeake Bay Stock Assessment Committee

Meetings

About

The Chesapeake Bay Stock Assessment Committee (CBSAC) combines the expertise of state representatives and scientists from the Chesapeake Bay region with federal fisheries scientists from the National Marine Fisheries Service’s Northeast and Southeast Fisheries Science Centers. This committee has met each year since 1997 to review the results of annual Chesapeake Bay blue crab surveys and harvest data, and to develop management advice for Chesapeake Bay jurisdictions: the state of Maryland, Commonwealth of Virginia, and the Potomac River Fisheries Commission (PRFC).

Charter

The 2024 Chesapeake Bay Stock Assessment Committee Charter provides clarification for the structure and operations of CBSAC. It includes a framework that identifies the roles and responsibilities of CBSAC and its individual members, as well as guidance for formal Committee procedures such as adding new members and making science-based management recommendations. The framework in this charter also provides mechanisms to expand the traditional role of CBSAC to include other key species apart from blue crab and to support ecosystem-based approaches to resource management in the Chesapeake Bay. This charter supersedes previous charters, including charters from 2021, 2020 and 2016.

Membership Application

To become a member of the Chesapeake Bay Stock Assessment Committee, complete this membership application. Voting members are expected to fully participate in meetings, report preparations and scientific analyses that support blue crab management.

Projects

Publications