A Chesapeake Bay Foundation report blames pollution and overfishing for devastating declines in Chesapeake Bay blue crabs.
According to the report, algal blooms caused by nitrogen and phosphorous pollution have damaged underwater grass beds that are a key crab habitat. Dead zones in the bay are blamed for killing thousands of tons of clams and worms each year, depriving crabs of a food source.
The report was based on government data, scientific papers and interviews with leading crab researchers and water quality experts.
