The role of benthic communities in the health of Maryland's Coastal Bays
![Coastal Bays Newsletter](https://ian.umces.edu/site/assets/files/12999/the-role-of-benthic-communities-in-the-health-of-marylands-coastal-bays.200x0.png)
In collaboration with the University of Maryland's Cooperative Extension Service at the Wye Mills Research and Education Center,
EcoCheck (NOAA - UMCES partnership) has produced a newsletter on the history and current trends of benthic communities in Maryland's Coastal Bays. Aquatic grasses and shellfish are important components of a healthy ecosystem because they provide a variety of ecosystem services, improve water quality, and are commercially valuable.