Estuaries are among the most productive natural places on earth.
The combination of salt and fresh waters produce a unique and fertile environment that supports a diversity of plant and animal life. More than two thirds of the fish and shellfish commercially harvested spend part or all of their lives in estuaries. These fragile waters are vital to our economy, but they can be easily destroyed by human activities. Decades of overuse and misuse have led to declining water quality, damaged ecosystems, and a loss of fish and wildlife. Once abundant, oysters, salmon, and Atlantic blue crab populations have seen a dramatic decrease.