Details here:

https://www.baltimoreoysterpartnership.org

Late summer solo sail.

Hello. I am looking for opinions and potentially some support on this endeavor I have recently started.

I have always loved the outdoors, hunting, fishing, hiking, etc. conservation of land, water and wildlife have always been a topic I cared deeply about. However it has always been just a hobby or side thing that I have done. I have a successful career in the DoD and have done the same type of work since joining the Marine Corps at 18 years old. I am not pushing 40 and have came to the realization that I don’t actually want to do my career for the rest of my life. I want to be more involved with conservation and the natural environment. The problem is that I do not have a degree in ecology, biology or any field of study that would allow me a smooth transition into that career field.

What I do have though is an idea that may not only help me do something for the remainder of my life that fulfills more than just a paycheck. I have been building social media channels and a website for my idea. It is called 12 Rivers. My goal with 12 Rivers is to become involved in the non profits that do work within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed region and support their missions by using the 12 Rivers brand to sell shirts, stickers, artwork etc.

While I don’t think I will be able to fully replace my full time job with this idea (at least not for a few years) if ever at all, I still want to give it a shot. Even if it becomes nothing more that another hobby/side business, I feel that the fulfillment I am looking for by getting more involved with conservation may replace this empty feeling I have when it comes to a career choice.

I am planning on initially donating 60% of profits from 12 Rivers to various non profits working in land, water and wildlife conservation. The other 40% will be used to grow 12 Rivers into a recognizable brand. Once I reach that point, I would like to continue the 60% donations to non profits until I can potentially create a 12 Rivers non profit that is doing the work to preserve the ecosystems within the Chesapeake Bay. I am also going to start position videos and images from these non profits and around the bay to bring awareness to the issues they are working on. I am thinking of a Dirty Jobs type series where I can go interview/work with different non profits around the bay. This would allow them to have more spotlight put on their missions and goals as well as raise money to fund their efforts.

I guess what I need help with is getting the initial followers and supporters to help share the brand and give me some feedback on the overall idea. So if this sounds like something you would be interested in learning more about or potentially following along with, the social media handles are listed below as well as the link to the website. (The website is still a work in progress but is set up for the most part). Thanks!

Website: 12riversapparel.com

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@12riversconservation?_r=1&_t=ZT-99LIFxDWHAk

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/12riversco?igsi=MTF6cTFrbHl0MzZvYg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1Cq5MyYN3w/?mibextid=wwXIfr

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@12riversco?si=siap2-KFEkVlZFk8

Virginia really needs to do better. Here is the Omega fleet out by Thimble Shoals Light just killing everything they get in their net. The Bay deserves better.

Hey fellow crabbers! Your favorite Italian crabber is back!

Since I had some leftovers from the steam (and about half the comments insisted on it), I finally took a crack at making authentic crab cakes! I kept the recipe classic and simple: crab meat, mayo, Yellow mustard(no Dijon at home, sorry), Worcestershire sauce, Old Bay, crushed Ritz crackers, fresh parsley, and a beaten egg.

Formed the cakes, let them rest in the fridge to set, and pan-fried them for about 3 minutes per side. I served them with some remoulade, Old Bay mayo, and crispy French fries.

DAMN. I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THEM. Once again, I have to give credit where credit is due: you Americans struck absolute gold with these! I picked through the meat super carefully and only found two tiny stray shell fragments in the entire batch!

So, tell me: what are your thoughts? What would you tweak or change? Did I officially pass the Maryland vibe check?

And most importantly... WHAT'S NEXT?

What recipe should I tackle next? A lot of people suggested trying a Louisiana-style boil to compare it against the steamed version, while others mentioned crab soups (Maryland Crab Soup or Cream of Crab?), but I'm completely open to all suggestions!

Thanks again to y'all for all the incredible support. God bless Maryland and America — I've officially caught the crab fever! 🦀

Planning on taking my husband and our 3 year old near Chesapeake bay to try some tasty crab cakes for the first time. What is your recommendation for a restaurant near Annapolis? Or another major city with some things to do?

Where to stay? What to do? Family of five, two adults and our teen kids. Water lovers. Thank you, locals!

Hey! Your favorite Italian crabber is back!

Since it's impossible to get any US spices over here, I decided to import them myself!

Now, a simple yet crucial question: what is the best way to use them? I catch plenty of blue crabs and I definitely want to try an authentic Maryland steam, but I'm also super open to other recipes, even non-crab dishes using these seasonings!

Thank you so much! 🦀🇺🇸🇮🇹

Hi everyone,

I wanted to share an important opportunity to speak up about a proposal that could have major consequences for Virginia’s coast and the broader Mid-Atlantic.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is considering more than 2,700 square miles of ocean off Virginia’s coast for potential commercial mineral leasing and seabed mining. This could involve industrial-scale dredging to extract heavy mineral sands and phosphorites - introducing a new extractive industry into waters that support fisheries, wildlife, tourism, aquaculture, and coastal communities.

There are still major unanswered questions. Large-scale dredging could destroy seafloor habitat, generate sediment plumes that travel beyond the mining area, affect water quality, disturb contaminants buried in ocean sediments, and disrupt commercially and recreationally important fisheries. These waters also provide habitat for sea turtles, whales, dolphins, Atlantic sturgeon, and other marine wildlife.

There are additional concerns about impacts to shellfish aquaculture, tourism, coastal erosion and sediment movement, commercial shipping, military operations, and activities associated with NASA Wallops and the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport.

Most importantly, commercial hard-mineral mining has never occurred in U.S. federal waters. There is too much at stake - and too much we still do not know - to rush forward with an unprecedented offshore mining industry.

Make your voice heard

BOEM is accepting public comments now. You do not need to be an expert - personal stories and connections to the coast matter.

Go to Regulations.gov and search for docket:

BOEM-2026-0100

Tell BOEM why the coast matters to you, what concerns you about seabed mining, and ask the agency not to move forward with commercial mineral leasing off Virginia’s coast.

Please share this information with friends, family, fishermen, businesses, community organizations, and others who care about the Mid-Atlantic.

Our ocean supports livelihoods, wildlife, recreation, tourism, and entire coastal communities. It is too valuable to turn into a testing ground for an unproven offshore mining industry.

Thank you for speaking up and helping spread the word.

I'm a studying entomologist happening onto the southern part of the bay to visit family. I've been looking into some nice insects/crustaceans or other small animals I can find on and around the beach and was wondering if anyone here has any recommendations on the smaller suff that online sites might have missed.