The Health of the Bay Has Always Depended on Menhaden - And Always Will

[newsBot]

This just in from the somd.com Headline News:

Title: The Health of the Bay Has Always Depended on Menhaden - And Always Will

Date: 12-07-2017 09:19 AM

Summary: Environmental commentary by Joel Dunn, president and CEO of the Chesapeake Conservancy.

Click here for the full story...

 

[Hijinx]

This just in from the somd.com Headline News:

Title: The Health of the Bay Has Always Depended on Menhaden - And Always Will

Date: 12-07-2017 09:19 AM

Summary: Environmental commentary by Joel Dunn, president and CEO of the Chesapeake Conservancy.

Click here for the full story...

The menhaden fishery is the largest in the Atlantic, with an approved total allowable catch of 200,000 metric tons for the 2017 fishing system. Virginia is allocated 85.32 percent of that catch while Maryland is allocated 1.37 percent, which means most of the fish stock is taken from the lower Chesapeake.

That sure sounds a bit disproportionate .Who makes these allocations??? Virginia?

 

[Chris0nllyn]

Who makes these allocations???

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's Atlantic Menhaden Management Board makes those allocations. It's that disproportionate because one of the main ways they catch menhaden (using two boats and a net, or seining) hasn't been allowed in MD since the 1950s.

 

[Bird Dog]

That sure sounds a bit disproportionate .Who makes these allocations??? Virginia?

Virginia has been raping the Bay forever. Crab dredging in the winter, allowing the catching of sponge crabs, overfishing of horseshoe crab and menhaden and an extended Rockfish gill netting season.

The reason they have such a large allocation of menhaden is they’ve always done it so when the AFMSC gave out allocations they froze them at current levels not what was right

 

[Hijinx]

Virginia has been raping the Bay forever. Crab dredging in the winter, allowing the catching of sponge crabs, overfishing of horseshoe crab and menhaden and an extended Rockfish gill netting season.

The reason they have such a large allocation of menhaden is they’ve always done it so when the AFMSC gave out allocations they froze them at current levels not what was right

You are right about Virginia and their raping of the waters adjoining it. Been going on forever.

 

[Hijinx]

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's Atlantic Menhaden Management Board makes those allocations. It's that disproportionate because one of the main ways they catch menhaden (using two boats and a net, or seining) hasn't been allowed in MD since the 1950s.

It isn't disproportionate because of the method of catching menhaden, it is disproportionate because the Fisheries commission allows them to do it.
And evidently has no intention of stopping it despite the dwindling numbers of the products of the sea.

 

[Chris0nllyn]

It isn't disproportionate because of the method of catching menhaden.

Yes it is. No other state than VA allows menhaden seining.

Nothing will change because that industry is the only fishing industry NOT regulated by VA's Marine Resources Commission, but instead regulated by VA's general assembly (the only state on the Atlantic Coast that does so). In fact, Gov. McAuliffe patted Omega Protein Corp (The main Menhdaden reduction company in the area) on the back for:

In June, Gov. Terry McAuliffe praised Omega for its contributions to Virginia's economy - more than $88 million a year.

But McAuliffe, like many other public officials in Virginia, has benefited from Omega, receiving $25,000 in 2014 for the governor-elect's inaugural committee, according to vpap.org. In all, the company has contributed $385,749 to the campaigns of Virginia candidates.

It should be noted that some overfishing has occured, but overall, menhaden fishing is sustainable. This is a fact made by Friend of the Sea, VA Institute of Marine Science, and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission themselves.

 

[Hijinx]

Yes it is. No other state than VA allows menhaden seining.

Nothing will change because that industry is the only fishing industry NOT regulated by VA's Marine Resources Commission, but instead regulated by VA's general assembly (the only state on the Atlantic Coast that does so). In fact, Gov. McAuliffe patted Omega Protein Corp (The main Menhdaden reduction company in the area) on the back for:



It should be noted that some overfishing has occured, but overall, menhaden fishing is sustainable. This is a fact made by Friend of the Sea, VA Institute of Marine Science, and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission themselves.

Like I said disproportionate because it is allowed. Does it really make a difference who allows it. We know Virginia doesn't care about the future of the bay or the Potomac they have proven it time and again.

 

[Chris0nllyn]

It isn't disproportionate because of the method of catching menhaden...

Like I said disproportionate because it is allowed.

:shrug:

 

[Monello]

Menhaden are filter feeders, so they help keep the bay clean.

Many rockfish are undersized due to not having enough fatty fish in their diet. They are switching to eating crabs when menhaden are not available.

Time to reduce the commercial take of menhaden. Just a few years ago, at a time when menhaden were being overfished, Omega was allowed to harvest 170 million metric tons.

In December 2012, in the face of the depletion of Atlantic menhaden, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission imposed a limit on Omega's operations, "capping the total annual commercial catch at 170,800 metric tons, about 80 percent of the average harvest from the last three years."

 

[Ken King]

Does Pax River still let the fish spotters fly up to the MD-VA line?