Our Bay: DNR Rail

How do bay grasses help the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem?

Answered by: Kathryn Busch, biologist, Department of Natural Resources 

Bay grasses, or submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV), are a group of rooted aquatic plants found throughout the shallow tidal and nontidal waters of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries.

Bay grasses serve many essential functions in maintaining a healthy Chesapeake Bay ecosystem. They provide food for a variety of fish, shellfish, invertebrates and waterfowl and serve as shelter and nursery habitat for juvenile fish and crabs. Molting blue crabs, commonly referred to...