Tuesday, January 12, 2016

{Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders} Menhaden legislative alert

I received the legislative alert pasted below from CCA Monday and thought others might be interested.  It's sort of unfathomable that the Menhaden fishery is managed by the state legislature rather than the Virginia Marine Resource Commission (VRMC).  The VMRC manages all other saltwater fisheries in the state.  I called my state delegate, Mark Levine, and spoke with his office for 5 minutes about the issue.  The menhaden is at the bottom of the food pyramid, so managing the resource wisely is really important.
 
Call your delegates and tell them to support these bills!

~Tom


CCA email alert pasted below:

The Virginia General Assembly starts their 2016 session next Wednesday (January 13, 2016).  There are two bills regarding menhaden that are of particular importance to Coastal Conservation Association Virginia(CCA VA) and the Virginia Saltwater Sportfishing Association (VSSA).  CCA VA has long sought meaningful change on Menhaden.  Virginia is the only remaining east coast state that allows Industrial Purse Seine Fishing for Menhaden.  The first (HB150) moves the management of Menhaden from the General Assembly to VMRC; the second (HB151) would prohibit Industrial Purse Seine Fishing for Menhaden from within ½ mile of the shoreline in the Bay and 3 miles of the shoreline from Virginia Beach to the NC border. HB151 will not get the reduction industrial fishery out of the Bay, but it will prohibit them from getting any closer to the shore than ½ mile in the Bay and will keep them 3 miles off the coast from Virginia Beach to the NC border.

For the first time in many years it appears we may actually have a chance of passing meaningful legislation relating to Menhaden in Virginia. There is support for both of these bills in both the House of Delegates and the Senate.  Moreover, there are more co-patrons than on any prior legislation.  But, there is not a single co-patron from Northern Virginia.


We are urging you to call your delegate to express your support for these bills. If you don't know who your delegate is, it can be found here: http://whosmy.virginiageneralassembly.gov/. Your call can be as simple as to say you support these two bills.  Consider asking your delegate to be the first from Northern VA to co-patron these bills.  We are particularly interested in seeking the support of and soliciting  Delegates Jackson Miller, Tim Hugo, Tag Greason, and David Albo as co-patrons.


Copies of HB150 and HB151 are on the following pages. Identical bills will be introduced in the Senate.

As additional information, Virginia's Legislation Information System (LIS) contains a complete listing of all bills, committee assignments, and subcommittee for the 2016 session.  The LIS site can be accessed here: https://lis.virginia.gov/

Calls to your delegate should be made as soon as possible; preferably before the General Assembly begins. If you can't speak with your delegate, speak with their legislative aide.  Many times speaking with the aide is easier and many times it will be more effective.  Believe it or not, they actually want to hear from you on issues that are important to you.


HB 150 Menhaden fishery; VMRC to adopt regulations to implement Interstate Fishery Management Plan.

Introduced by: Barry D. Knight | HOUSE PATRONS

SENATE PATRONS

SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED:

Management of menhaden. Requires the Virginia Marine Resources Commission to adopt regulations to implement the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Menhaden and authorizes the Commission to adopt regulations for managing the Commonwealth's menhaden fishery. The bill also requires that any moratorium on the fishery be subject to legislative review. Several sections dealing with quotas, allocation of allowable landings, and administrative procedures are repealed and will be included in a regulatory framework for managing the fishery.

FULL TEXT

HISTORY

HB 151 Purse nets; prohibits fishing for menhaden in certain waters.

Introduced by: Barry D. Knight

| HOUSE PATRONS

SENATE PATRONS

SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED:

Purse net fishing prohibited. Prohibits fishing for menhaden with purse nets (i) in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries within one mile of mean low water and (ii) within three miles of shoreline of Virginia Beach extending to the North Carolina border.

FULL TEXT

HISTORY

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