Who We Are

Be the Bay began in 2007 after years of watching the Bay continue to decline. We grew up playing on and in the Bay. We love the Bay. If you are like us, you remember a time when you could swim in the Bay without worrying about high levels of bacteria or harmful algal blooms. And a time when you could eat what you caught without worrying about mercury levels in your dinner. Even if you don't live on the Bay, its health is connected to our own. Whether it is air or water pollution, we are all affected.

We have spent years following the government and large non-profits restoration efforts. The government and non-profits cannot restore the Bay without you and me taking ownership of its health. That's where our name, Be The Bay, comes in. Our products and educational materials provide a way for you to show your support for the Chesapeake Bay and learn more about issues that matter to you.

Almost everyone wants a cleaner, healthier Bay whether for fishing, swimming, paddling on, or just living near. Most people just don't realize the impacts their daily lives have on the Bay, or what they could do to minimize these impacts. We're not suggesting you should move away, or even drastically alter your lifestyle. Look through our tips on what you can do to help protect the Bay. What could be easier than changing a lightbulb? Or altering the time of year you fertilize? When you have the easy ones down, move on to the next level for extra credit!

Founders Dave and Paula Jasinski want to hear from you. We want people to start talking to each other, their neighbors, their elected officials about the health of the Bay. Even though they have each worked in marine science and Bay restoration for more than fifteen years, they know neither scientific studies nor regulation can completely restore the Bay. We all need to take better care of this place we call home and protect it for future generations.