Scientists at Johns Hopkins University became concerned that the discharge of heated cooling water from the plant would be detrimental to a crucial element of the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem, the bay's famed blue crabs.
Notable landmarks are the Crossroads Pub famed for their Maryland blue crabs and once owned by the Harp family (Harp's Pub), who also owned Harp's grocery store; the quaint Post Office that oozes Americana; the gas station that was once owned by a man named Lenny, where he used to pump gasoline for automobiles, clean the windshields of cars, and sell vanilla popsicles for 10 cents; and the "Rabbit" which is properly decorated for major holidays.
The oxygen binding effectiveness of hemocyanin in the blue crab Callinectes sapidus varies according to the concentration of two factors, calcium ion concentration, and hydrogen ion concentration.
The bay side of the park is open to fishing, recreational crabbing, clamming, sailing and windsurfing and kayaking.
Holts Landing State Park is open for year round recreation and features the only pier on the east coast of Delaware that has been purpose built for crabbing, the recreational harvesting of blue crabs.
Approaching the bay side, one finds reeds and a muddy estuary that is home to blue crabs and herons and other marine birds.
The remaining fishermen still land their catches of blue crab, oysters, pink and white shrimp, mullet, trout, and grouper at the county’s Rock Landing dock.
The bay supports significant shellfishery for northern quahog and is a major spawning, nursery, and foraging area for blue crab.
Port Royal also hosts an annual soft shell crab festival in late April and a community oyster roast in late October.
Maryland blue crabs, oysters, rockfish and more, although less plentiful today, have comprised the bountiful seasonal harvests of the Upper Chesapeake Bay.
Maryland blue crabs are harvested by waterman on small workboats using trotlines and crab pots.
The top left quadrant features the black and gold crest of George Calvert, 1st Baron Baltimore, the bottom right quadrant features black and red stripes - a nod to Bohemian F.C. of Ireland and the other two quadrants feature a blue crab and a Black Eyed Susan, both symbols of Maryland.
The Chesapeake Bay, which is known for their Chesapeake Bay blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus) derives its name from "Chesepiook", a Susquehannock tribe word that means "Great Water".
Speckled trout, redfish, flounder, blue crabs and shrimp are important saltwater species found on the refuge.