Bob Abele last week was awarded
the Osprey Award by the Maryland
Coastal Bays Program for his exten-
sive work over nearly two decades
on behalf of the local estuaries and
ecosystems.
various capacities since its infancy
in 1996 before it was recognized as
a certified National Estuary Pro-
gram, was recognized by the MCBP
with the Osprey Award during the
program's release of the 2012 re-
port card for the coastal bays at the
Ocean City Fishing Center in West
Ocean City.
the program's highest honor includ-
ing Ilia and Joe Fehrer Sr., Jeanne
Lynch, Carolyn Cummins and the
late Tom Patton, all of whom aimed
to preserve and conserve the
coastal bays in and around the re-
sort area.
enjoyed camping, fishing and boat-
ing near the Adirondack Mountains.
He graduated from Clarkson Uni-
versity and began a 31-year career
with DuPont as a mechanical and
industrial engineer.
at a bayside condominium in Ocean
City and moved to Ocean Pines for
good in 1992. He has been active in
the community ever since, having
served on the OPA Board from 1996
to 1999.
became a recognized National
Estuary Program when he was lur-
ed into the well-organized but "not
yet up the creek" conference in
Ocean City concerning Maryland's
often forgotten coastal bays. In
June 1996, he was part of a group
gathered outside BJ's South in
Ocean City for the MCBP authoriza-
tion signing by federal, state, Wor-
cester County, Ocean City and Ber-
lin officials, which formed the basis
for moving the program forward to
become a National Estuary Pro-
gram.
until 2010 and, with other board
members, guided the developing
MCBP from its infancy. He was also
active in the development of the
Comprehensive Conservation Man-
agement Plan, which identifies spe-
cific issues and recommends cor-
rective actions for the long-term
sustainability of the coastal bays.
He was also a founding member of
the Maryland Coastal Bays Fishery
Advisory Committee, a diverse
group working to focus on issues re-
lated to fishing in the coastal bays.
Showell, MD 21862
443-727-9042