Virginia Governor Ralph Northam has introduced a piece of legislation that will seek to bring the commonwealth into full compliance in regards to menhaden fishing via decisions made by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC). The new limit on how many menhaden can be caught in Chesapeake Bay will come before the General Assembly as the some claim the species is threatened by over fishing. In a letter sent to Delegate Danny Marshall (R-Danville), chairman of the Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources, the governor emphasized the passage of House Bill 1610.
Atlantic menhaden is the only portion of the Virginia fishery that is not regulated by the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries or the Virginia Marine Resources Commission. Therefore, it takes legislative action to cap the fishery or impose restrictions.
Known locally as “bunker,” menhaden are critically important to Virginia’s ecology other fisheries. They are a vital part of the diet of striped bass, bluefish, tuna, and other predatory fish.
According to a report from the Rappahannock Record, Governor Northam also sent the letter to Speaker of the House Kirk Cox (R-Colonial Heights) and Senator Richard Stuart (R-King George), chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources. Part of the letter reads:
“The Commonwealth’s participation in ASMFC has massive economic benefits for the people of Virginia. Commercial and recreational fishermen in Virginia rely on the ASMFC’s cooperative management framework to ensure sustained harvest of more than 15 other species that, like menhaden, are shared with other states and do not reside exclusively in Virginia waters. Fish like striped bass, summer flounder, and bluefish support thriving commercial and recreational fisheries that support thousands of jobs and generate hundreds of millions of dollars in economic impacts.
Despite the recent ASMFC action, increases in stock abundance and relinquishment of quota from other states to Virginia have resulted in an increase of more than 4 million pounds of menhaden for the Commonwealth. Delegate Knight’s new bill reflects that, and does no harm to the menhaden industry. As you likely are aware, however, the U.S. Secretary of Commerce can make a finding of a state’s failure to implement a coastal fishery management plan, and declare a moratorium on fishing. If the General Assembly does not pass some version of Delegate Knight’s legislation, it will be very difficult for the Commonwealth to defend itself should ASMFC recommend a noncompliance finding by the Secretary of Commerce.”
The bill, sponsored by Delegate Barry Knight (R-Virginia Beach), will adjust the annual total allowable landings for menhaden from 168,937.75 metric tons to 170,797.17 metric tons. Moreover, the legislation provides that, “any portion of the coast-wide total allowable catch that is relinquished by a state that is a member of the ASMFC shall be redistributed to Virginia and other states according to the Commission’s allocation guidelines,” according to the bill.
An annual harvest cap will be placed on the purse seine fishery for Atlantic menhaden in the Chesapeake Bay as well. The cap will be put at 51,000 metric tons, down from 87,216 metric tons. Currently, if the cap is not met, the left over amount will be carried over to the next year, but the new bill will remove that provision.
The bill came forth after a similar legislative measure, House Bill 822, failed to receive a committee hearing before crossover. The cap of menhaden fishing is not only to mitigate localized depletion in the Chesapeake Bay, but is also in line with the average annual commercial catch recorded over the past few years.
