RICHMOND, VA – Jan 24, 2011 (Saving Seafood) Last week, Virginia legislators announced that they would withdraw bills targeting the menhaden industry that is economically vital to the northern neck peninsula. Delegates Barry Knight (R-Virginia Beach) , Harry R. Purkey (R-Virginia Beach), Watkins M. Abbitt, Jr., (I- Appomattox), and Jackson Miller (R-Manassas) all decided they would withdraw the bills they filed this year in the General Assembly aimed at the industry. Another bill, sponsored by Delegate John Cosgrove’s (Chesapeake –R), was rejected by unanimous vote in committee.
“I was pleased to work with the more than 50 Northern Neckers and industry representatives who banded together to defeat the only anti-menhaden bill that had a chance of passage,” said Delegate Albert Pollard (D – Lively). “Now,” says Pollard, “the same crowd who was pushing these bills, wanting to shut us down says they want reasonable legislation.”
Pollard wanted reasonable legislation to begin with, having expressed initial concern over the bills on his website: “These bills are particularly frustrating to me because I sat through several meetings over the break where scientists presented to us their facts. These facts show that menhaden are not overfished and that overfishing is not occurring. The facts also conclude that menhaden are not filter feeders for the Chesapeake Bay. While we do want to keep a close eye on the health of the fishery – and studies are continuing to do so – these menhaden related bills are unnecessary.”
Others came to the same conclusion. Delegate Knight indicated that, after significant discussions with State Senator Richard Stuart and extensive conversations with leaders from other Virginia fisheries, such as the oyster fishery, regarding the economic importance of the menhaden industry, he and the other Delegates had decided to withdraw their Bills.
Senator Stuart, who has just been appointed to the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC), said he would request that ASMFC conduct a study on the ecological value of the menhaden in the Bay region. A recent stock assessment by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) concluded that overfishing has occurred during one season, by less than a half of a single percent above ideal target estimates. However, the population is not considered to be overfished, meaning that the population can produce enough eggs to replace itself, and no regulatory action has been deemed necessary by the ASMFC.