Virginia Institute of Marine Science

05/28/2026

The 2026 Winter Dredge Survey conducted by William & Mary’s Batten School & VIMS and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources estimated 349 million blue crabs in the Chesapeake Bay, a 46% increase from last year’s estimate of 238 million crabs. Researchers also recorded 228 million juvenile crabs, the highest juvenile abundance seen since 2019 and a 121% increase from 2025.

Adult male crabs increased to 37 million, while adult female abundance declined to 81 million. While female numbers remain above the management threshold, scientists say continued monitoring is critical for the long-term health of the fishery.

Each winter, scientists sample more than 1,500 sites across the Chesapeake Bay to help track the population of one of the region’s most iconic species and guide future fisheries management decisions.

Read more about the 2026 Chesapeake Bay Blue Crab Winter Dredge Survey: https://www.vims.edu/newsandevents/topstories/2026/2026-chesapeake-bay-blue-crab-winter-dredge-survey.php

05/27/2026

Each spring, researchers from William & Mary’s Batten School & VIMS survey Virginia rivers like the Rappahannock and James to safely catch, tag and release spawning striped bass. Using specialized electrofishing equipment, scientists temporarily stun the fish long enough to collect important data on size, s*x, migration and spawning activity before releasing them back into the water. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has deemed electrofishing a safe and effective method for fisheries research and conservation.

Since 1988, the VIMS Striped Bass Program has monitored spawning striped bass throughout Chesapeake Bay tributaries, building one of the region’s most valuable long-term datasets for understanding the fishery.

As striped bass populations continue to face declines along the Atlantic coast, the information gathered through these surveys helps inform state and federal management decisions aimed at rebuilding the stock and protecting one of the Chesapeake Bay’s most iconic fish for future generations.

Curious to learn more? Visit the link: https://www.vims.edu/newsandevents/topstories/2026/electrofishing-survey-striped-bass.php

05/26/2026

The plans in question: Marine Science Day - Saturday, May 30! 🐟🔬🦀

Once a year, nearly every corner of our campus is open to the public for a behind-the-scenes look at the science that happens here at the Batten School & VIMS. Bring the whole family for hands-on marine exhibits, a costume contest, river seining, lab tours and more!

We can’t wait to SEA you there! 😉🌊

To register and access a full itinerary, visit the link: https://events.wm.edu/event/view/vims/370431

05/21/2026

Join us in congratulating the Class of 2026! 👏🎓

This year, 31 students from William & Mary’s Batten School & VIMS crossed the stage after years of hard work, research, fieldwork and discovery. From studying changing coastlines and marine ecosystems to advancing fisheries, aquaculture and climate science, each graduate has helped contribute to a better understanding of our oceans and coastal communities.

We are so proud of everything these students have accomplished during their time at the Batten School & VIMS and can’t wait to see where their paths lead next. The future of coastal & marine science is brighter because of them. 🌊

🔗 Read more about this year’s graduation at the link: https://www.vims.edu/newsandevents/topstories/2026/graduation-26.php

05/20/2026

This summer's Chesapeake Bay “dead zone” could be one of the mildest seen in decades and rank among the lowest 10% of years since monitoring began in 1985, according to a newly released forecast from William & Mary’s Batten School & VIMS, FlowWest and the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science.

Lower river flows and reduced nitrogen pollution entering the Bay earlier this year are expected to create better oxygen conditions for blue crabs, fish, oysters and other marine life this summer. Scientists estimate hypoxic conditions will be about 31% below the long-term average.

The annual forecast is part of a growing effort to better understand and predict Bay conditions using environmental data and advanced modeling. Researchers say these forecasts help track how the Bay is responding to nutrient reductions, changing weather patterns and long-term restoration efforts.

Throughout the summer, scientists will continue monitoring Bay conditions through the Chesapeake Bay Environmental Forecasting System, which provides daily forecasts for dissolved oxygen, harmful algal blooms, sea nettles, temperature and more.

🔗 Learn more at the link: https://www.vims.edu/newsandevents/topstories/2026/2026-chesapeake-bay-hypoxia-forecast.php

05/19/2026

Rising sea levels are reshaping Mid-Atlantic farmland faster than expected.

A new study led by William & Mary’s Batten School & VIMS found that roughly 25,000 acres of farmland in the Chesapeake and Delaware Bay watersheds were lost to marsh migration between 1984 and 2022. Despite efforts by landowners to slow saltwater intrusion with levees, berms and drainage systems, marsh migration occurred nearly twice as on agricultural land than in nearby forests.

The scientists used decades of satellite imagery combined with field surveys and direct engagement with landowners. Their findings challenge long-held assumptions that valuable farmland would be better protected from sea level rise and highlight the growing impacts on coastal farming communities across the Mid-Atlantic.

🔗 Read more about the research and what it means for coastal communities:

Ghost forests have become haunting symbols of sea level rise overtaking land along the Mid-Atlantic coast. But a new study in Nature Sustainability led by William & Mary’s Batten School & VIMS points to even more dramatic land losses in the region’s coastal farmlands, where the rate of marsh enc...

05/18/2026

From field courses to international travels, these are the moments our graduates will never forget 🌊🎓
 
This weekend, we celebrated the incredible students of the Batten School & VIMS as they crossed the stage and officially became graduates. Before they headed off to their next adventures, we asked them to share some of their favorite memories from their time here 💚

05/15/2026

As Commencement nears, we're excited to celebrate 12 undergraduate students who are completing their Minor in Coastal & Marine Science through William & Mary’s Batten School & VIMS.

This interdisciplinary minor brings together hands-on learning and foundational science across coastal and marine systems, preparing students to better understand and address the challenges facing our oceans and coasts. From field experiences to classroom discovery, these students have built strong skills and a deeper connection to marine science.

Congratulations to all of you on this accomplishment! We can’t wait to see where the tide takes you! 🌊

05/14/2026

New research from William & Mary’s Batten School of Coastal & Marine Sciences & VIMS finds that lobster eggs host diverse, resilient microbial communities that may help protect embryos as oceans warm and change.

🦞 Watch to find out how these tiny microbes could shape the future of lobsters.

🔗 Full story at the link: https://www.vims.edu/newsandevents/topstories/2026/lobster-egg-microbiome.php

📸: Virginia Sea Grant

05/12/2026

🎓Graduation Profile - Matthew LaGanke 🎓

When Matthew LaGanke Ph.D. ’26 witnessed the Apalachicola Bay oyster population collapse while working as a conservation tech in Florida, he knew he wanted to do more. That experience led him to William & Mary’s Batten School & VIMS, where he began studying shellfish aquaculture under Professor Bill Walton.

Now, as one of 17 Ph.D. students graduating in 2026, Matthew has collaborated with aquaculture farmers across the country to explore ways to improve inventory management at-scale and support more efficient, sustainable shellfish farming. As part of the first cohort able to concentrate in shellfish aquaculture, he says the experience was life-changing.

👉 Learn more about Matthew's academic journey: https://www.vims.edu/academics/alumni-profiles/laganke-m/