Menhaden

VSSA Menhaden Position.  Our position on menhaden is that the massive menhaden reduction industry should be moved out of the bay until science can show it is not causing harm.

There are growing concerns about localized depletion, bycatch, damage to the ecosystem, including potential impacts on striped bass, osprey, cobia and others, and a long history of damaging net spills. They currently harvest up to 112,000,000 pounds annually from the most important estuary and nursery on the East Coast. This is simply unacceptable.  While menhaden are not considered “overfished”, this is a coast wide designation and has nothing to do with conditions in the bay. 

We continue to support the much smaller Menhaden Bait industry, which helps crabbers and recreational anglers.

We also call on all politicians to stop taking donations from this Canadian owned company.

Finally, we call on the industry and the Youngkin administration to actively support research on these critical forage fish.  Help us help the bay by joining VSSA today.

August 2, 2023. 

IMPORTANT UPDATE ON MENHADEN -ACTION NEEDED!

Dear Recreational Anglers:

We are asking for your support by signing two important petitions currently in Virginia’s new “Regulatory town hall.”  First, a little background…

As you know VSSA has been working on the menhaden issue in the bay for quite a while. Progress has been slow but we are moving in a positive direction.

The industry recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with VMRC which restricts netting in the bay on some days and provides a one nautical mile buffer along the eastern shore and the southern side of the western shore. We provided input and wanted a larger buffer, but this will be helpful to areas of the bay that have endured repeated net spills. So far, we have seen full compliance with the MOU.

A menhaden study bill was passed by the General Assembly in February.  We lobbied hard for this bill since we often are told “there is no science to support your concerns.” Sadly, the industry lobbied to water it down. I wonder why? VSSA will have a seat at the table with VMRC and VIMS when the details of the study are hammered out this month.

You may have heard about recent research from the Center for Conservation Biology at William and Mary showing that our iconic Osprey in the lower bay are not surviving due to lack of their preferred food, menhaden. No surprise here. This is consistent with what many of us have observed over the past several years. The Virginia Audubon Society is involved and will no doubt put added pressure on government officials who are hesitant to act. Concerned citizens can contact the VMRC Commissioner at [email protected] or the Virginia Secretary of Natural Resources at [email protected].

There are two petitions working their way through the Townhall Process. The first calls for regulation of the size of purse seine nets in the bay. These nets are 60 feet deep and often drag across the bottom when deployed in shallow water, doing unknown damage. To view the petition and make comments, please click below, and scroll to the bottom where it says ‘Comment Period.’          Click “In Progress” to make your comment. It can be as simple as “I agree with this, these nets are too big for our bay.” Please do this ASAP at the link below:

https://townhall.virginia.gov/L/ViewPetition.cfm?petitionId=392

The second petition calls for regulation of the discharge water from these ships. Many of you have witnessed this as they pump out the water that is sucked in when they vacuum menhaden from the nets. It’s nasty looking stuff when it floats up on a beach. Public comments for this petition open on August 14. Here is the link:

https://townhall.virginia.gov/L/ViewPetition.cfm?petitionId=394

We hope you will take advantage and provide your input into these important matters. Please note that some of you received a similar notice from our menhaden coalition partner TRCP. If you have made comments there it is not necessary to comment again, but if you would like to personalize your comments, please use the links above.

Finally, if you are receiving duplicate emails from VSSA please let us know. If you are not a member, please consider strengthening our collective voices by joining VSSA at: https://joinvssa.org.

Best regards and good fishing,
Steve Atkinson

 

July 28, 2022.  See VSSA response to Omega regarding taking menhaden from Chesapeake Bay.

July 12, 2022.  Can you spare 1-minute to tell us what you have personally witnessed about menhaden.  Menhaden Localized Depletion Witness Testimony

COLUMN Opinion: Advocates call for limits of menhaden fishing in Virginia – The Virginian-Pilot (pilotonline.com)

Opinion: Advocates call for limits of menhaden fishing in Virginia

By Mike Avery Guest Columnist

Jun 22, 2022 at 6:05 pm

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin is working hard to improve Virginia’s economy. By establishing an Amazon fulfillment center in Augusta County, which will create 500 new jobs, and a Walgreens micro-fulfillment center in Hanover County, which will create 249 new jobs, it’s clear that Youngkin is pro business.

As a Republican governor focused on building up the commonwealth, the Chesapeake Bay is most likely high on Youngkin’s list of priorities. The bay has been a breadbasket in our region for hundreds of years, producing vital food and resources, as well as supporting thriving coastal ecosystems. Now it’s time to focus economic growth on the Northern Neck, by revitalizing industries that have fallen to the wayside in favor of industrialized fishing companies, which have been pillaging our bay for decades.

In Reedville, Northumberland County, internationally-owned Omega Protein operates a large-scale “reduction” fishing for Atlantic menhaden. Each year, more than 100 million pounds of Atlantic menhaden are being removed from bay waters and “reduced” to fish meal and oil for pet food and salmon feed. However, Atlantic menhaden play a vital role in coastal ecosystems by serving as the base of the food chain which supports the diets of striped bass, bluefish, humpback whales and osprey, to name a few.

Between 2009 and 2016, the value of the striped bass fishery, once the most economically valuable recreational fishery in Virginia, dropped more than 50% from $382 million to $166 million. The decline in the striped bass population, which considers the Chesapeake Bay its primary nursery grounds, can be traced back to the menhaden reduction fishery.

According to the latest ecosystem modeling, the health of the striped bass population is directly tied to menhaden fishing in the Atlantic. As menhaden reduction fishing increases, relative striped bass biomass decreases. In other words, because striped bass are so dependent on Atlantic menhaden, reduction fishing is estimated to contribute to about a 30% decline in the striped bass population coast wide.

Saltwater recreational fishing in Virginia is enjoyed by 600,000 anglers annually, contributing $465 million to the commonwealth’s economy and supporting 6,504 jobs. The jobs created by these fisheries are the lifeblood of our coastal communities as more than 90% of the sportfishing and boating industry is made up of small businesses.

Virginia’s menhaden resources belong to all citizens of the commonwealth and not to one company whose profits are funneled back to an international corporation and its other international subsidiaries. By allowing this company to take the resource from our bay at a lower cost, Virginia in effect is subsidizing this operation. And since the menhaden fishing season only runs eight months out of the year, it’s up to Omega’s employees to find a new job to cover that gap or apply for unemployment.

It’s time that Youngkin becomes the first Virginia governor to boost our Northern Neck economy, just as he did in Augusta and Hanover counties, by ending menhaden reduction fishing in the Chesapeake Bay, and by establishing good-paying jobs for Virginia citizens.

The detrimental impact of menhaden reduction fishing on the marine environment is so pronounced that it is outlawed in every state along the East Coast except Virginia. Let’s get with the times and produce some real economic change in the commonwealth by prioritizing the livelihoods of our hard-working citizens rather than prioritizing the bank accounts of foreign companies.

Please join the Virginia Saltwater Sportfishing Association and other organizations by signing our petition to Gov. Youngkin to move the industrial harvest of menhaden out of the Chesapeake Bay by going to trcp.org/VAmenhaden.

Mike Avery, of Hampton, is the chairman of the Virginia Saltwater Sportfishing Association.

FOR THE RECORD

The original headline said advocates call for ending menhaden fishing in Virginia. They want to limit fishing to the coastal waters east of Virginia’s Eastern Shore.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

June 15, 2022. Stop Industrial Menhaden Fishing in the Chesapeake Bay.  VSSA along with a numerous national and local partners have begun a campaign to stop the industrial fishing of menhaden in the Chesapeake Bay.  We want all industrial, purse-sein fishing of menhaden to happen in coastal waters NOT the Chesapeake Bay.  Please join VSSA in this endeavor by signing this petition.  While you are here we are stronger together so please join VSSA for only $25 and donate to our cause as this fight will not be easy.  We need all angler united in this effort to be successful. 

Sign Petition

Join VSSA

Donate to VSSA

See Our Letter to Governor Youngkin

January 12, 2020.  VSSA is working hard on the menhaden issue and there are at least 6 bills that have been introduced in the General Assembly.  We expect that some of them will be rolled together.  We are focusing on those bills that transfer the management/regulation to the VMRC.  This is a permanent solution to the long standing problem in the bay and would end the involvement of the General Assembly in this important fishery.  In short, menhaden are far too important to be managed by a part time group of lawmakers that mostly do not understand this fishery.  This would also bring Virginia into compliance with the ASMFC fishery management plan. Please see the attached document for additional info.  This can be used for talking points or as a handout when meeting with legislators.  

Currently these bills are in Que for consideration by the ches bay/natural resources committees in both the House and Senate. Thanks to Barry Knight, John Cosgrove, Nancy Guy, Ken Plum, Bill Desteph, Ghazala Hashmi, and Lynwood Lewis who have all sponsored bills to address the concerns of anglers. Governor Northam also supports the transfer to VMRC.   As you can those letters and phone calls have made a huge difference.  Here is a list of all the bills on menhaden put together by one of our members Bill Dunn.  We expect these may be consolidated.  At present VSSA is fully supporting House Bill 1448 and Senate Bill 791 and ask that you give all your support as well. 

And, there is much work to do.  Attached is a listing of these committees for the 2020 session.  We are trying to meet with as many of these as possible. We urge you to call or email them, especially if you are in their districts.  You can also contact your representatives even if not on the committee.  Obviously we will need the support of the entire Assembly if the committee approves  a bill.  Better yet, come to the general assembly and meet with them.  Ask them to support bills to transfer management to the VMRC.  Our striped bass fishery is in decline, this is hurting those that make a living off bass and we believe that the lack of menhaden in the bay is partly to blame. 

We will notify you via email and our Facebook page as soon as we know that dates and times for committees to discuss these bills. (Unfortunately, we often get little notice).  We want to stress the economics of the situation, so if your business has been harmed by the new striped bass regulations, we urge you to attend these sessions and speak in support of these bills.  Of course, Omega Protein will have their people there to resist…they much prefer to be regulated by those that don’t know what a menhaden is. VMRC is not perfect but it will be far better than what we have today. 

Thanks for your efforts to make our state legislators aware of this issue.

And a special thanks to the Menhaden Task Force for their efforts led by Steve Atkinson. We are making real progress!  

We intend to send you updates as the bills will be heard so stay tuned.  When you talk to your representative, suggest you use the talking points below.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 17, 2019.  Thank you Wilbur Ross.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

October 28, 2019.   Virginia is out of compliance!

Will Wonders never cease? We don’t believe what just happened. The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) Menhaden Management Board voted today, to find the Commonwealth of Virginia “out of compliance” on Menhaden Management. Omega Proteins action to exceed the Chesapeake Bay Cap of 51,000 MT backfired on them. The vote was unanimous by all of the ASMFC states, with only the National Marine Fisheries Service and NOAA abstaining. This action will result in the overage being deducted from the 2020 Quota. Omega tried to justify their actions with bad weather days and the 87,100 MT tons written into the VA code. Moreover, they tried to explain their self-imposed limit of 67,000 MT for the 2019 harvest when added to the 2018 harvest of 32,000 MT would result in the 2 year average being less than the 51,000 MT Bay cap. This irresponsible action didn’t work!

October 13, 2019.  VSSA, our members, the angling public, and anyone who cares about the health of the Chesapeake Bay are deeply disappointed in our current situation regarding menhaden.  Since VSSA was formed in 2015 menhaden has been at the top of our agenda and we are concerned that little to no progress has been made in this area.  Having said that, we will not give up and will continue the fight.  In 2016 We formed the Virginia Menhaden Alliance so any organization or club could collaborate to support the wise management of menhaden. VSSA also joined the networks with many organizations that have this common goal.  ASMFC officially lowered the bay cap to 51,000 metric tons but our General Assembly has yet to pass a bill to implement this.  Technically, with no Virginia law to lower the bay cap we are out of compliance.  VSSA led a petition we sent to the Department of Commerce requested the federal government take action now to find Virginia out of compliance.  We appreciate all the signatures.   The angler comments in the petition were inspiring. Here is the federal government response to our petition.  We spoke to NOAA fisheries once we were notified that Omega has officially exceeded the bay cap.   Alan Risenhoover (301) 427-8500 stated that his office must be officially notified by ASMFC before any action could be taken by the federal government.  The ASMFC meeting where this decision should be made will be on Monday, October 28 at 1:45 pm.  We are concerned that ASMFC will not take action and either kick the can down the road or raise the bay cap.  If anyone can attend that can help influence this meeting it would be appreciated.  Omega published a letter on this matter and we find their response totally unacceptable as it implies they are able to set their own quotas and rules regardless of what fishery managers decide.  Last month VSSA formed a task force whose mission is to turn our attention to our representatives in Virginia to get the management of menhaden out of the General Assembly who know nothing about menhaden managment and transfer management to VMRC where it belongs.  The task force is asking everyone to contact the Governor and their representative in both the House and Senate and ask if they support menhaden conservation in the Chesapeake Bay. We are asking everyone to write a letter to the Governor’s office.  You can write your own or just print this letter, sign and mail.  We want to flood the Governor’s office will letters. To contact your representative, please go to this website to find out who your representatives and ask the following questions (at a minimum) https://www.virginia.gov/services/whos-my-legislator/

1. Are you aware that a single foreign owned company in Reedville, VA is taking large numbers of menhaden from the Chesapeake Bay?
2. Are you aware this company is over the bay quota set by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC)?
3. Would you support a bill to move management from the GA to VMRC who manages every other saltwater fish in Virginia?
4. Would you be willing to contact other Senators / Delegates to gather support for this bill?
5. Do you consent to this conversation being summarized on the open web for voters to see?

You can use this form to take notes during your call.  We are asking that you summarize the answers on this site https://joinvssa.org/forum/ and provide your comments on our website under the appropriate district. Our goal is to get as many Senators and Delegates involved no matter whether that district is located adjacent to the Chesapeake Bay or not.  The Chesapeake Bay is a national treasure and it is being destroyed by a foreign owned company who does not care about anything other than sending profits to Canada.  

Thank you for your support.

 

August 7, 2019. Attention All Virginia Anglers!

The Virginia Saltwater Sportfishing Assn (VSSA) is working to ensure the long term sustainability of Virginia’s fisheries. Our purpose is to provide a strong voice in all matters relating to saltwater fishing.

This is your opportunity to engage with your state representatives on important matters such as menhaden, a critical forage fish.
Some legislators want to better regulate this industry while others support the status quo.

• The reduction industry harvest in the bay is down over 50% in the past decade (Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission -ASMFC data); Omega Protein has stated “there is no scientific evidence of menhaden depletion in the bay.”
• Many Chesapeake Bay anglers have observed a decline first hand.
• Menhaden are valuable filter feeders and help clean the bay waters.
• Many fish rely on menhaden for forage, especially striped bass which are also in decline and new restrictions are coming soon; a recent study concluded that striped bass have been reduced by 28% coast-wide as a result of the reduction industry. The striped bass fishery contributes over $100 million a year to Virginia’s economy.
• Menhaden are the only fish managed by the Virginia General Assembly rather than the professional fisheries managers at the Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC).
Menhaden bills are introduced every year in the Virginia General Assembly but fail to get out of Senate or House Committees.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

Call or write your district’s political representatives (incumbents and challengers) for the Va. House and Senate!

https://whosmy.virginiageneralassembly.gov and ask them:

1. What is your view on menhaden and their management in Virginia, especially the Chesapeake Bay?
2. Do you/will you support moving regulatory authority to the VMRC? Why/why not?
3. What is your view on Virginia failing to pass legislation to lower the bay harvest cap of the reduction industry, per the 2017 ASMFC directive?

Please join us in engaging our political representatives on matters important to recreational fisherman.
VSSA does not endorse or oppose any candidates for public office.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 30, 2019.  Thank you concerned citizens of Virginia. We have 3156 signatures and are putting the letter to Secretary Ross in the mail today.  

VSSA Menhaden Petition Final 1 Apr 19 

VSSA Menhaden Petition Comments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

February 27, 2019.  Please sign our petition to get the Federal Government to step in to find Virginia out of compliance on menhaden management.  

http://chng.it/xCSjLwS9Dr

January 31, 2019.  Here we go again. In the Virginia General Assembly, both the Senate and House failed to pass a bill out of committee that would transfer the Management of Menhaden over to VMRC. VSSA Board member Steve Atkinson spoke at both the Senate and House hearings. He was so frustrated after the Senate meeting, he wrote the letter below.

So Virginia will remain out of compliance with the ASMFC mandate to reduce the harvest of Menhaden in the Chesapeake Bay. It will be interesting to see what ASMFC Menhaden Management Board does in their meeting on Feb. 7 2019. I bet they do nothing and kick the can down the road again. What do you think?

 

January 1, 2019.  Happy New Year from VSSA.  Omega Protein seeking to certify its menhaden reduction fishery as sustainable through the Marine Stewardship Certification (MSC).   We have sent a letter in opposition to this certification as we believe menhaden continues to decline year after year.  If you believe the removal of large numbers of menhaden every year is not sustainable then please join us by sending your comments in not later than January 14, 2019 by sending an email to [email protected] with copy to [email protected].  Or you can use our form below to send your comments.  You can use our comments or edit to personalize to your preference.  Thank you for supporting VSSA.  

 

December 26, 2018.  Omega Protein is seeking to get certification that their fishing is sustainable.  VSSA does not agree and want to prevent this certification.  

 

July 8, 2018.  ASMFC warns Virginia on being out of compliance on the Bay Cap and Virginia’s reply. It will be interesting to see what happens at the August ASMFC Menhaden Management Board Meeting. Technically, Virginia is out of Compliance. What will ASMFC do?  VSSA is weighing our options to figure out the best options to bring Virginia into compliance.  

 

June 29, 2018.  Good Article in the Richmond Times Dispatch on the Politics of Menhaden

January 23, 2018.  Click here for the current status of the appeal.  

January 17. 2018.  Virginia had a victory at the November 2017 ASMFC meeting with the lowering of the bay cap from 87,000 MT to 51,000 MT.   It is very upsetting to us to learn that Virginia submitted an appeal to attempt to reverse the decisions from the November 2017 meeting.  The letter below has made its way to be considered for the February 8, 2018 ASMFC agenda.   There are too many lies and inconsistencies in the letter below to reconcile.  The most egregious is notion that no scientific evidence is available to suggest that localized depletion is occurring the Chesapeake Bay.  How about the scientific evidence from direct testimony from thousands of anglers who spend significant time on the water year after year all saying the same thing, “That menhaden stocks in the bay continue to decline year after year. That what is available in the bay is but a fraction of what it once was.”  How can anyone say this direct testimony from so many anglers should not be counted as scientific evidence?  Our problem is our fishery scientist don’t spend time on the water, they spend all their time reading technical documents.  

 

We are asking all anglers from Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, and Delaware sound off now by sending an email to ASMFC not later than January 30, 2018.  Feel free to edit the email to use your own words.  The more personalized messages they receive the more effective we are.  Please share this page with all anglers.

Here is a copy of the VSSA letter sent on January 17, 2018. https://joinvssa.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/VSSA-Menhaden-Appeal-011718.pdf

 

   

 

14 Nov 2017.  

ASMFC Menhaden Management Board Meetings, there was a significant amount of parliamentary maneuvering between the states. However, we did score one tremendous win today. The Chesapeake Bay Cap was reduced to 51,000 Metric Tons. Below is a rundown of the issues, along with the VSSA position and final outcome. In my view, the final outcome was not a total bust. We were essentially successful or partially successful on 4 of the 8 of the issues contained in Amendment 3. Unfortunately, I continue to believe the board’s actions were irresponsible on Ecological Reference Points (ERP’s) considering the historic and unprecedented number of 153,000 written comments supporting implementing ERP’s now. In my view, ERP’s was the major issue in this amendment.

• Ecological Reference Points -VSSA advocated for Option E, implementing Ecological Reference Points now. The board voted to implement Option B, essentially maintaining status quo and the single species management for 2018 and 2019.
• Total Allowable Coastwide Catch – VSSA advocated maintaining the TAC at the current level; the board voted in a new TAC of 216,000 MT representing an 8% increase. It could have been worse; there were motions to raise it as high as 240,000 MT which were thankfully defeated.
• Allocation Method – VSSA advocated giving each state a fixed minimum of 2% of the coastwide quota with the remainder distributed based on historical landings. The board voted to give each state .5% with no rollover of unused quota. I view this as getting more than what we wanted
• Quota Transfers – VSSA advocated no quota transfers between states; the board voted to continue allowing Quota Transfers between states.
• Quota Rollovers – VSSA advocated removing the provisions for Quota Rollovers. The Board voted to remove the rollover provisions.
• Incidental Catch and By Catch Provisions – VSSA advocated counting the entire cap towards the TAC regardless of catch method. The board voted to continue this option with the current By Catch provisions.
• Episodic Events – VSSA advocated eliminating this provision. The board voted to continue the 1% episodic event set aside for NY through Maine.
• Chesapeake Bay CAP – VSSA advocated decreasing the current cap from 87,000 MT to 51,000MT. The board voted to decrease the cap to 51,000 MT.

In summary, VSSA scored one major and historic victory on reducing the Bay Cap. We were also successful in getting the quota rollover provisions removed, and in getting a fixed minimum amount of the quota assigned to each state thus reducing VA’s share of the Coastwide TAC from 86% to 78.66%. Considering the parliamentary maneuvering between the states that took place, things could have been a lot worse. Amendment 3 is now complete and we have regulations for 2018 and 2019 Menhaden fishery. Let’s hope the work on ERP’s is finished and peer reviewed in time for the 2020 season. Thank you to all for your efforts and helping to develop and write in support of the VSSA positions.

 

5 Nov 2017.  VSSA has partnered with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation to provide transportation to the ASMFC meeting.  See below for details.  

 

5 Nov 2017.  VSSA sent this letter to VMRC in hopes that our Virginia voting board members vote with the will of the people.  When you see any VMRC official this week or next, please encourage them to vote for Option E, Ecological Reference Points.

 

1 Oct 2017.  We need all anglers, individuals and organizations concerned about the health of the bay to send comments to ASMFC regarding menhaden now.  ASMFC is about to approve Amendment 3 which will change the way menhaden is managed. The future of “the most important fish in the sea” is at stake!  The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) is now accepting comments on proposed changes to its menhaden management plan changes that could determine whether this vital fish thrives or struggles in the future.

Menhaden a small, silvery, nutrient-rich fish is a vital link in the Chesapeake Bay’s food web.  Often called the “most important fish in the sea,” menhaden serve as an important food source for striped bass, birds, and marine mammals. But the Chesapeake Bay has not been seeing the number of young menhaden it did historically, raising concerns for scientists, anglers, and anyone who cares about the health of the Bay.

As ASMFC considers revisions to its fishery management plan, it is essential that menhaden’s vital ecological role be a top priority.  Send a message to ASMFC right now before the October 24 deadline. Tell them you want a strong, ecosystem-based management plan for “the most important fish in the sea.”

Now is the moment to implement ecological management for menhaden. We’re advocating management to:

1. Ensure menhaden are managed for their important role as a forage fish in the ecosystem ensuring that enough fish are left in the water to support their many predators.
2. Guarantee unused quota in menhaden harvests are not carried over into the next year’s harvest.
3. Ensure all the menhaden is included in the coast wide Total Allowable Catch (TAC). 
4. Reduce the current cap on reduction harvest in Chesapeake Bay to address ongoing concerns about low menhaden abundance.

Thank you VSSA members for sending emails to ASMFC regarding Amendment 3.  We had almost 200 emails sent.

VSSA Amendment 3 Talking Points

September 17, 2017.  Suggested Talking Points on Amendment 3 for Atlantic Menhaden.  There is a series of public hearings on menhaden being held by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC). We need as many anglers and conservation minded individuals to show up at one of the Virginia public hearings and sound off. We believe ASMFC will do like last year and take input issue by issue so our recommended talking points are organized in that manner. We have done our best to figure out what will be in the best interest of the recreational angling community so we suggest using our talking points at the public hearings. Feel free to download and read the entire Amendment and formulate your own comments if desired.

http://asmfc.org/uploads/file/598dd1b9AtlanticMenhadenDraftAmendment3_PublicComment.pdf

Suggest you print these talking points and attend the meeting closest to your location. We have until October 20th, 2017 to get in our written comments so we will send that out later. The Public hearings are as follows:

Potomac River Fisheries Commission September 19, 2017; 6PM Carpenter Building 222 Taylor Street Colonial Beach, VA

Virginia Marine Resources Commission September 20, 2017; 6 PM Northumberland High School 201 Academic Lane Heathsville, VA

Virginia Marine Resources Commission September 21, 2017; 6PM 2600 Washington Avenue, 4th Floor Newport News, VA

We will keep you abreast of this amendment on this VSSA page. Suggest you bookmark this to keep abreast. Thanks for your continued support.

https://joinvssa.org/action-plan/menhaden/

 

January 17, 2017.  VSSA supports the following bills.  Please email the delegate expressing your support and if you can go to Richmond this week, attend any of the hearings on these bill and express your support.

VSSA Amendment 3 Talking Points

Menhaden Bill in Senate Committee

Senator John Cosgrove submitted a bill, SB820, to move the regulation of the Menhaden fish from the General Assembly to the professionals in the Virginia Marine Resource Center (VMRC).  This legislation has been pushed to be heard today, January 12th.

SB820 will be heard TODAY the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Conservation, and Natural Resources, which meets 30 minutes after adjournment of the floor session.  Legislators begin the floor session at noon, and adjourn when the daily business is complete, which can range from 30 min to 2 hours.  I know it is a short notice, but please do what you can to let the committee hear your voices:

Senate Committee on Agriculture, Conservation, and Natural Resources 1/2 hour upon adjournment Senate Room B

*Click HERE for the list of legislators on the committee 

Delegate Knight has submitted three bills that encompass the Menhaden issue.  HB1576 & HB1577 are the same pieces of legislation that we sponsored last year.  HB1576 will restrict Menhaden fishing by distance from the shoreline, and HB1577 is a companion bill to SB820 that will transfer the regulation from the General Assembly to the VMRC.   Click HERE to view the members of the Chesapeake Subcommittee that will vote on this legislation.

The NEW piece of legislation is HJ572, which asks an independent body to study the effects of transferring the regulation to the VMRC.  This study allows a different subcommittee, Studies, to take up the Menhaden issue.  If this legislation passes, it will take a year to review, and the results will be provided to the General Assembly prior to the 2018 Legislative Session.

 

Click HERE to view the members of the Rules Subcommittee on Studies. Click HERE to read the Virginia Pilot article by David Mayfield on my legislation, HJ572, for the study.

Virginia House of Delegates – Agriculture Chesapeake and Natural Resources – Chesapeake Subcommittee

Chair:	Wilt, Tony O.
Meeting Date:	01/19/2017
Meeting Time:	04:00 PM
Add to Outlook	Add to Google
Location:	5th Floor East Conference Room
Contact:
Barbara Teague, [email protected], 804-698-1543	Scott Meacham, [email protected], 804-786-3591 ext. 209 David Barry, [email protected], 804-786-3591, ext. 224

On the agenda for this meeting are 7 Bill(s)/Resolution(s) in 1 block(s)

Click to view Full Agenda and see more information on this meeting.

 

January 10, 2017.  Thanks to all those who took the time to send their comments to ASMFC.  We had over 500 individual emails sent using the VSSA email form submitter.  Below is a copy of the letter sent (from over 500 anglers).  The next step is for ASMFC to develop the full Amendment and VSSA will monitor this action as draft become available.   Thank you for your continued support. 

December 19, 2016.  Here is a copy of the VSSA letter sent to ASMFC regarding Amendment 3 PID.  VSSA written comments Amendment 3 PID 121916

October 26, 2016. The Virginia Menhaden Alliance worked hard with alliance members to convince the ASMFC Menhaden Board to keep our quota at the current level with no increases.  Our efforts failed.  Even our own state, Virginia, voted for the increase and were advocating for even more increases to 10%.  The ASFMC board met on Wednesday, October 26, 2016 and voted to increase the catch by 6.45%. 

http://asmfc.org/uploads/file/58113785pr32AtlMenhaden2017TAC.pdf

http://pilotonline.com/news/local/environment/fisheries-panel-after-failed-last-try-agrees-on-increase-in/article_148958ed-8154-59ac-8984-f3204730e314.html

October 19, 2016.  The Virginia Menhaden Alliance has created a facebook page as a tool to keep all abreast of alliance activities that are of general interest to the public.  Please like and share this page to help spread the word. 

https://www.facebook.com/VirginiaMenhadenAlliance/

September 21, 2016.  We held our second meeting on September 21 and continued our dialog on how to tackle the menhaden issue for Virginia.  Our plans are coming together on two main fronts (1) at the federal level with NOAA/NMFS and the ASMFC and (2) at the state level focusing on what we can do for 2016/2017 legislative cycle in our state government.  Many angling clubs and conservation organizations have signed on to become what will from this day forward be known as the Virginia Menhaden Alliance.  We will soon involve the angling public and public in general so you can join our fight to conserve menhaden in the Chesapeake Bay and Virginia waters.  If you believe your organization can assist or may want to be part of this alliance, please contact VSSA soonest. 

August 17, 2016.  We had a great first meeting tonight with good participation including Senator Frank Wagner and Del Barry Knight’s aide and many organizations concerned about menhaden. We talked about everything from new bills for the GA, changing VA reps to the ASMFC menhaden board, ASMFC amendment 3 and Oct meeting, protecting bay menhaden by reducing bay quota or simply not allowing bay fishing until Sept to give them time to mature, networking with other states, energizing the public, highlighting violations, get press and TV involved more. More to follow as we get organized. 

Senator Frank Wagner making some excellent points.

Dustin Rinehart (Del Barry Knight Aid) updating the group on what Barry Knight’s plans are for menhaden.

Leaders from numerous organizations in Virginia concerned about menhaden.

 

 

VSSA and CBF are forming a menhaden coalition of fishing clubs and organizations to join forces to try to figure out the best approach to reduce localized depletion of our menhaden.  The meeting on Menhaden working group session is on Wednesday August 17, 2016 at the CBF Brock Environmental Center, 3663 Marlin Bay Ct, Virginia Beach, VA 23455 from 6 pm to 9 pm.  So far we have invited:

• Bull Island Anglers Club
• Central Virginia Sportfishing Association
• Chincoteague Island Charterboat Association
• Eastern Shore of Virginia Anglers Club
• Eastern Shore of Virginia Marlin Club
• Great Bridge Fisherman’s Association
• Norfolk Angler’s Club
• Northern Neck Anglers Club
• Peninsula Saltwater Sportfishing Association
• Portsmouth Anglers Club
• Tidewater Anglers Club
• Tidewater Kayak Angler’s Association
• Virginia Beach Angler’s Club
• Virginia Charterboat Association
• Virginia Coastal Fly Angler’s Club
• Coastal Conservation Association of Virginia
• Maryland Saltwater Sportfishing Association
• Recreational Fishing Alliance
• Chesapeake Bay Defenders

We are not asking individual anglers to attend at this time, just a representative from organizations.  We do want your thoughts, ideas, and recommendations on what we should be doing as a coalition to reduce overfishing of menhaden.  You can send your thoughts and ideas to [email protected]. 

VSSA remains cash poor and if you are able to donate to help this cause, please click here to donate. We are an approved 501-C3 Non-Profit so your donations are tax deductible and very much appreciated.  If you so designate, your contribution will be used solely to the menhaden issue. 

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Bookmark this page to stay abreast of what we are doing for menhaden. 

 

 

VSSA Goal:  Significantly reduce or eliminate industrial scale allocation. Support legislation to move management to VMRC. Address both at federal and state levels with emphasis on federal.

Here are the VSSA documents on menhaden sent to date.

VSSA ASMFC Menhaden 25 Jul 16

VSSA Menhaden comments 070516

VSSA SB 219 Letter to Commmitee

VSSA Menhaden 042415