Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are areas where human activities are restricted for conservation or historical purposes. These restrictions can include limitations on fishing, development, and anything that disrupts aquatic life. In the United States,...
Blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus) are a species of crab native to estuaries along the western Atlantic coast from Nova Scotia to northern Argentina (Figure 1). They live on soft-bottom habitats and are omnivorous, feeding...
Green crabs (Carcinus maenas) are a relatively small species of crab that live in intertidal zones and shallow coastal waters (Figure 1). They are native to the Atlantic coast of Europe and North Africa...
In many rivers throughout the world, dams have greatly altered the aquatic ecosystem. These structures block migratory routes for anadromous species that live in saltwater and migrate into freshwater to spawn, preventing them from...
Oyster reefs are dense colonies made up of thousands of individual oysters attached to hard substrate (Figure 1). Because of their complex structures, oyster reefs provide important habitat for a variety of fish and...
Artificial reefs are intentionally placed man-made structures that are constructed to provide habitat for fish and invertebrates. They are made of dense, durable materials such as scuttled ships and barges, decommissioned military vehicles, rubble...
In many coldwater streams in North America, nonnative trout are replacing native trout populations through hybridization, competition, and predation. Brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis; Figure 1) are a species native to eastern North America. Throughout...
Horseshoe crabs (Limulus polyphemus) are a species of marine arthropod native to the Atlantic coast of North America, ranging from the Gulf of Maine to the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico (Figure 1). Despite their...
American eels (Anguilla rostrata) are slimy fish with long, snakelike bodies found along the Atlantic coast from Greenland to Brazil. Like many species of diadromous fish (species that migrate between fresh and saltwater), American...
Submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) are underwater plants that grow in shallow water and do not emerge above the surface. These areas are important nurseries for juvenile fish and provide refuge for smaller species of...
