Wait now โ there's more going on in the oh-so complicated and frustrating world of fisheries management.
Also on Monday, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission will hold one of its menhaden meetings to determine if it should lower the allowed annual take of one of the most important fish in the sea. A filter feeder that cleans the waters, and a valuable food source for most species, menhaden numbers are already crucially low.
So it's a no-brainer โฆ lower the take by commercial fishermen who harvest the species for its Omega 2 oils.
Menhaden is the only species in Virginia waters that isn't controlled by fisheries professionals. The General Assembly controls it. What? Why?
Monday's meeting is supposed to be a time when the fishing community โ both commercial and recreational โ can voice their opinion on the matter.
So where has the ASMFC in all its wisdom decide to hold this meeting? Not any place central to all involved. No, they decided to hold it at Northumberland High School in Heathsville โ a mere stone's throw from Reedville, home of Omega Protein, the company that does all the taking.
Read the full article at the Virginian-Pilot.
Analysis: The article refers to menhaden numbers are "crucially low." However, the most recent ASMFC stock assessment does not indicate that fishing is currently causing long-term damage to the population. The ASMFC concluded that menhaden are currently not overfished, and that overfishing has only occurred once in the fishery in the last ten years.