The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said more than $1 million in grants from its Chesapeake Bay office in Annapolis will be used to improve understanding of soft-shell clams, oysters, striped bass and other key bay species. The grants will fund research by teams at universities and state agencies in Virginia and Maryland. Programs include the first-ever attempt to assess oyster stocks using survey methods similar to the winter dredge survey for crabs. And another will study what caused the decline of soft-shelled clams and what can be done to restore the shellfish, an important food source for crabs and fish. AP
