Big Work To Do at Long Beach in Stratford, but our little crew showed the endurance and commitment of champions today
Sunday, March 21, 2010 at 8:19PM 
We measured this male blue crab at more than 7.5 inches, huge for a blue crab, even by Maryland standards- Could be a good sign of things to come, but it's a darn shame we didn't get to serve this guy with butter and Old BayA great big thank you to all the volunteers who wandered the litter-strewn beaches of Long Beach and Long Beach West in Stratford today. Despite sore backs, sun and wind burn from yesterday, and a chilly sea breeze that held the warm spring suns rays off today, the ten-person crew made concerted efforts to abate the acres of trash thrown on shore by the surging tides in last weeks storm.
Bottles and cans more than 30 years old, lobster traps twisted into knots and enough plastic to cling wrap Fenway Park were among the huge variety of items found in the more than 25 bags of trash we collected.
Of particular note, and perhaps concern, was the great many of HUGE-sized crabs, starfish and one little lobster that we're found dead in the wrack line, apparently stranded and tangled in the choke of flotsam and jetsam and deposited for the last week at Long Beach. The huge starfish may be indicators of improving water quality or may indicate an imbalance between oysters and their number one predator. However, the giant crabs are great evidence of a healthy population that has both ecological and commercial importance to our waters and are tasty to boot! If there's a few on the beach, then there must be more in the seas and to see them so early in the season bodes well for a great summer of seafood and perhaps a changing ecological landscape!
Now just two days into our week-long beach cleanup effort, we have a bag count of more than 300 bags. Follow our progress and become a fan of CCB on Facebook where we will continue our Bag Count and keep you updated on our week's progress.
Tomorrow, we'll be at Ash Creek Nature Preserve at 9AM in Fairfield and will cross the stream over to Saint Mary's-By-The-Sea at 1PM. Bags, volunteers and well wishes are all welcome- if you see our crew out there please give them a pat on the back or a honk of the horn to show your support- and they'll be happy to accept a donation if you feel so inclined.
Again thank you to all those who are making this week a success and we look forward to seeing you on the waterfront!
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