Lawmakers Hooked On OMEGA

[Kevin Smith]

Lawmakers hooked by fish industry
Posted to: Editorials Opinion Login or register to post comments

The Virginian-Pilot
© January 24, 2010
Menhaden - an oily, bony baitfish - attracts more than stripers and bluefish. It attracts Virginia lawmakers by the score.

Omega Protein, which harvests menhaden for industrial purposes and processes them in Reedville, has carved out the privileged status of having its fishery in the Chesapeake Bay regulated by politicians to whom it gives thousands of dollars in donations each year.

The commercial exploitation of creatures in state waters is ordinarily controlled by the Virginia Marine Resource Commission. The VMRC regulates oysters, blue crabs, striped bass, bluefish, speckled trout and much, much more. What it doesn't regulate - by law - is menhaden, one of the largest commercial catches in Virginia waters. Instead, the fishery is the only one overseen by the General Assembly, where marine scientists are in short supply.

That's a problem. Menhaden are voracious filter feeders and once were common as pebbles in the Chesapeake Bay.

They cleaned the Bay's waters and fed all kinds of bigger fish.

Menhaden are considered so critical to the ecosystem of the East Coast and the food chain that author Bruce Franklin titled his book, "The Most Important Fish in the Sea." Allowing the company that profits from the fish, and its lawmakers, to decide how many Omega should catch is the equivalent of letting foxes decide how many chickens to keep in the henhouse.

Still, the General Assembly has refused to cede oversight of menhaden to VMRC. Omega is now subject to a compromise between state and federal regulators that allows the company to take 100,000 metric tons of menhaden a year in the Chesapeake. The company has come nowhere near that cap, a fact that environmentalists cite as proof of overfishing and company officials cite as proof of caution.

Most likely it's proof that the company - the only one working in Virginia - is catching all the menhaden it needs in state waters outside the Bay. According to the National Marine Fisheries Service, 160,357 metric tons of menhaden were landed in Virginia in 2008, most from state waters. Virginia and North Carolina are the only East Coast states that permit industrial menhaden fishing.

What isn't clear is whether the species can survive this onslaught. The Bay continues to be plagued by dead zones caused by too much of the algae the creatures can eat; there are signs the fish that prey on menhaden are suffering because their food supplies are dwindling.

Such uncertainty can be traced back to a faulty regime in which lawmakers were asked to regulate a complicated fishery in a complex ecosystem that even experts don't fully understand. Instead of the VMRC, which is supported by the best science and data available and meets every month, menhaden are regulated by lawmakers who meet on a tight two-month calendar and have a million other things to worry about.

Given the thousands of dollars Omega has distributed in Richmond over the years, that's perhaps no surprise. But it is wrong, it is dangerous for the Bay, and it should change.

Sen. Ralph Northam and Del. John Cosgrove have introduced legislation that would properly put menhaden regulation under the VMRC, where it would be governed by science and what's best for the Chesapeake and the fishery. The legislation is likely to face tough opposition in the House of Delegates, where Omega has been especially generous.

As before, their proposals to protect menhaden and the Bay will test the extent to which money serves as bait for lawmakers in Richmond.

[justpeachie]

I understand the bill,'s patrons pulled it from consideraton in the house today. Wonder just what that means. I suppose they couldn't drum up enough support to make it worth a vote? Menhaden don't vote, do they? Or grease the pockets of Delegates.

[Tom Powers]

Lots of times in politics the votes are counted before they walk into the committee meeting. They don't have to know every vote just if there are enough (or not) to get it to pass The Legislative information system says that the senate bill was withdrawn by the sponsor. The house bill was tabled in committee by voice vote.

[Deep 6]

I got a nice explanation for the removal of the bill in an email...I would almost rather see a vote. The way this was done we have no idea who the Omega supporters are. How do we vote them out if we can't tell who they are?

[deltaville]

What's appalling is how cheaply legislators everywhere can be bought, by anyone, for almost anything.
Maybe the Chesapeake Bay Foundation should start making campaign contributions. It's legal and it's effective.
To borrow a movie line, trying to educate these guys and hope they do the right thing is like bring a knife to a gun fight.

[martineta]

Why take a chance, Re-elect no one.

[Meat Hunter]

HB 726 and SB 632 will do more more to rebuild the rockfish stock than any menhaden bill. By limiting recreational boats to only fishing 2 rods there will be a lot more fish in the water. Since less fish will leave the water then that should give the others a better chance to really reach trophy size. This will also give us more credibility since the executive director of CCA and the director of the Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament won't have to go across the 3 mile line to catch a fish.

[Kevin Smith]

Meat Hunter,

From 1979 to 2006 the Menhaden stock along the Atlantic Coast has declined over 70% and over 96% of the Menhaden caught inside the Chesapeake Bay last year were 2 years old or younger which means trillions of eggs were never allowed to be hatched. All of the above appear to be seriously damaging the health of the Chesapeake Bay and appear to be putting the Atlantic Coast Fisheries at risk, while in 2009 OMEGA spent record amounts of money in campaign donations to Virginia's elected.

You clearly don't care about Virginia's treasure called the Chesapeake Bay or the health of the Atlantic Coastal Fisheries.

Kevin Smith
Coastal Conservation Association Virginia

[Scott_nra]

HB 726 and SB 632 will do more more to rebuild the rockfish stock than any menhaden bill. By limiting recreational boats to only fishing 2 rods there will be a lot more fish in the water. Since less fish will leave the water then that should give the others a better chance to really reach trophy size. This will also give us more credibility since the executive director of CCA and the director of the Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament won't have to go across the 3 mile line to catch a fish.

ummm...BS! You could have 10 guys and 2 rods, get in the fish and everyone limit out. What kind of meathead thinks two rods matter? Hey, i know what will help! Lets tax the hell out of the rec guys and let the Commercial bunch do what they want! Oh yeah, they are working on that now with the new Fed Angler number crap and getting rid of the boat license.

C'mon men, wake up.

[Diamond Reef]

Kevin, I love your menhaden #s. You want vmrc to control menhaden fishing, why?

[captaingeorge]

In times like these, do you seriously believe a State lawmaker will vote for a bill that will almost certainly result in the loss of jobs in the state? You're joking, right?

[Kevin Smith]

Capt George,

There is no need to take action that will result in the loss of jobs in this industry. For the health of the Chesapeake Bay, there is a need to let the VMRC provide scientific input towards the management of the number 1 food source of all saltwater game fish in the Chesapeake Bay-Menhaden.

Kevin
Weekend Mistress
Coastal Conservation Association Virginia

[captaingeorge]

That's political doublespeak and you know it. Your goal, your agenda, is to end menhaden fishing in the Chesapeake Bay. Why don't you just be honest about it?
In any case, my point stands. There is little or no chance that any change in the status quo will occur anytime soon.

[Meat Hunter]

Meat Hunter,

From 1979 to 2006 the Menhaden stock along the Atlantic Coast has declined over 70% and over 96% of the Menhaden caught inside the Chesapeake Bay last year were 2 years old or younger which means trillions of eggs were never allowed to be hatched. All of the above appear to be seriously damaging the health of the Chesapeake Bay and appear to be putting the Atlantic Coast Fisheries at risk, while in 2009 OMEGA spent record amounts of money in campaign donations to Virginia's elected.

You clearly don't care about Virginia's treasure called the Chesapeake Bay or the health of the Atlantic Coastal Fisheries.

Kevin Smith
Coastal Conservation Association Virginia

Kevin,
The following is from NOAA's Office of Sustainable Fisheries website:
"For menhaden, while the coastwide stock assessment indicated that the stock was not overfished, and that overfishing was not occurring, there is concern from some sectors that pressure from the reduction fishery in Chesapeake Bay could be contributing to localized depletion of menhaden needed for forage for predatory fish, such as striped bass."

So you want to ignore science and instead rely on concerns (opinions) from some sectors (Coastal C***suckers of America). A few people that couldn't come home with a mess of fish if you gave them a hundred dollar bill and sent them to the Fulton Fish Market. This select group of opinionated people should be able to dictate the livelihoods of the 10's of thousands of people that depend on the bunker to feed their families.

Your comment about the eggs. Have you ever seen how much roe is in a 40 lb rockfish.

Omega spending record amounts of money in campaign contributions. Maybe they wouldn't have to spend any if they didn't have to continue to fight false allegations by people such as you. If they didn't have to fight these false allegations then maybe they could do even more of the voluntary work they have done to make their Reedville plant green. This is something the company has done that far exceeds any political contributions and it has positive effects on the quality of the air and water.

If you want to attack an industry why don't you go after the poultry producers. It is a known fact (you know scientific) that poultry pollution is the #1 source of the nitrogen pollution entering the bay (stormwater runoff from development is #2). How much money do you think they give to politicians?

For over 25 years every deadline to get the Chesapeake Bay off of the impaired waters list has gone by with the bay getting worse. During that entire time the "big money" of the farm lobby and the developers have fought those efforts.

Here is a little experiment you can run sometime while you are on the bay. It isn't scientific but it is a good observation. Take a bucket of water and put any marine animal (spot, croaker, crab, oyster) in it. Then take another bucket of water and put a bucker in it. Which one dies first? Ask yourself why.

[WhiteStoneBridge]

Hey Kevin, It is time to quit arguing with idiots. These guys have no clue. It is this kind of ignorance that is hurting the Bay. Yeah, let's go after all the hundreds of poultry producers along the Bay. Yeah let's just call 'em up and have a chat. So simple, why didn't we think of that ? I guess asking ONE company to continue fishing in the Ocean but not in the Bay is too hard for these guys to comprehend.

[Diamond Reef]

IF we were in church I would have to say Amen. political double talk. Your agenda is to shut down Omega, amen, amen. Thats why they cant get anyones ear, but the people that have already drank the punch. Tell everyone what you really want( You dont care how many menhaden there are you just dont like Omega) that would work better than telling lies to the general assembly.

[Scott_nra]

Heck, I'll be honest; I don't care about Omega Either way. I do care about the bay. I Don't think that stoping menhaden Fishing in the bay would kill jobs. I think Omega would simply move off shore. If a couple of those guys did loose their job, I think it would be more than offset by crabbers not loosing theirs due to a healthier bay, or Charter Captains loosing theirs due to increased limits, restrictions and fees. Resturant, marina, fast food, hotel, boat shop, boat dealers, etc. employees loosing thiers due to less people comming to fish.

That bay is not only related to Omega and us rec fishing guys. It's deeply intertwined into the economy of this state and region. I think it's time we remember that. The bay is responsible for many millions of income dollars in thousands of related industries. Keeping it healthy is good for many people that may never even see the Bay.

[Kevin Smith]

Kevin,
The following is from NOAA's Office of Sustainable Fisheries website:
"For menhaden, while the coastwide stock assessment indicated that the stock was not overfished, and that overfishing was not occurring, there is concern from some sectors that pressure from the reduction fishery in Chesapeake Bay could be contributing to localized depletion of menhaden needed for forage for predatory fish, such as striped bass."

So you want to ignore science and instead rely on concerns (opinions) from some sectors (Coastal C***suckers of America). A few people that couldn't come home with a mess of fish if you gave them a hundred dollar bill and sent them to the Fulton Fish Market. This select group of opinionated people should be able to dictate the livelihoods of the 10's of thousands of people that depend on the bunker to feed their families.

Your comment about the eggs. Have you ever seen how much roe is in a 40 lb rockfish.

Omega spending record amounts of money in campaign contributions. Maybe they wouldn't have to spend any if they didn't have to continue to fight false allegations by people such as you. If they didn't have to fight these false allegations then maybe they could do even more of the voluntary work they have done to make their Reedville plant green. This is something the company has done that far exceeds any political contributions and it has positive effects on the quality of the air and water.

If you want to attack an industry why don't you go after the poultry producers. It is a known fact (you know scientific) that poultry pollution is the #1 source of the nitrogen pollution entering the bay (stormwater runoff from development is #2). How much money do you think they give to politicians?

For over 25 years every deadline to get the Chesapeake Bay off of the impaired waters list has gone by with the bay getting worse. During that entire time the "big money" of the farm lobby and the developers have fought those efforts.

Here is a little experiment you can run sometime while you are on the bay. It isn't scientific but it is a good observation. Take a bucket of water and put any marine animal (spot, croaker, crab, oyster) in it. Then take another bucket of water and put a bucker in it. Which one dies first? Ask yourself why.

Per the ASMFC- there is concern about the population of Menhaden inside the Cheaspeake Bay due to OMEGA.
Per ASMFC calculations -The Menhaden Atlantic Coastal Stocks have been reduced by over 70% of what there was in 1979.
Per OMEGA's own catch results-96% of the 100 million pounds of Menhaden caught by OMEGA inside the Chesapeake Bay have never spawned thereby keeping trillions of eggs from hatching every year.
Per OMEGA's own catch data the amount of Menhaden they are catching in the bay is in a downward trend.
Per Meat Hunter CCA stands for something that only an ignorant person would say on a public forum. :wacko:

Scott you are right "Enough Said"

Kev

[Meat Hunter]

Hey Kevin, It is time to quit arguing with idiots. These guys have no clue. It is this kind of ignorance that is hurting the Bay. Yeah, let's go after all the hundreds of poultry producers along the Bay. Yeah let's just call 'em up and have a chat. So simple, why didn't we think of that ? I guess asking ONE company to continue fishing in the Ocean but not in the Bay is too hard for these guys to comprehend.
Again you don't know what you are talking about. Tyson and Perdue the 2 major players own the birds. They also own the feed and chemicals that are forced feed to the birds. Tyson and Perdue pick the birds up and take them to their processing plants leaving the waste at the farms to drain into the bay. What is the difference in going after Tyson and Perdue as to going after Omega.

[captaingeorge]

Heck, I'll be honest; I don't care about Omega Either way. Fair enough. At least you aren't trying to blow that "all we want to do is switch control over to the VMRC" smoke up everyone's ass. Anyone that has followed this board for years and anyone that knows the CCA knows it's pure BS.

[Meat Hunter]

IF we were in church I would have to say Amen. political double talk. Your agenda is to shut down Omega, amen, amen. Thats why they cant get anyones ear, but the people that have already drank the punch. Tell everyone what you really want( You dont care how many menhaden there are you just dont like Omega) that would work better than telling lies to the general assembly.
That is right Diamond Reef that is the agenda they want but they can't introduce legislation that blatantly would go after Omega. Instead they say regulate menhaden. What they don't understand is if Omega goes so will all others fishing for menhaden. If Omega goes so does the bait fishery. No bait for crab pots, no bait for chumming, no bait for chucking.
The same bunch on here that are such experts about the menhaden fishery are the same bunch that were experts on the crab fishery a couple of years ago. And when the crab fishery closed 6 weeks early they were the same bunch whining about not being able to find crabs so they could tautog fish.
They green-wash everything but their agenda is to drive the commercial guy out.
You know I think Kevin Smith is probably a democrat. He certainly has the attitude that since he can't catch fish it must be someone else's fault.

[asaltedfly]

I did some quick math; and using the following standards to be applied to the formula: the bay holds 18 trillions gallons of water, a menhaden can filter 4 gallons of water per minute. There are about 4400 menhaden to a metric ton. Using these numbers as standards, it would take over 19 years for 100 metric tons of menhaden to filter the bay. That is if the fish stayed in the bay year round (they are only here about 8 months of the year).
So if omega is taking anywhere near this amount of filter feeding fish from the bay it is incredibly harmful to the bay.
So remove omega, clean up the chicken farms, and city water treatment plants. IT WILL STILL TAKE A GENERATION TO CLEAN UP THE BAY.

[SaltyJB]

IF we were in church I would have to say Amen. political double talk. Your agenda is to shut down Omega, amen, amen. Thats why they cant get anyones ear, but the people that have already drank the punch. Tell everyone what you really want( You dont care how many menhaden there are you just dont like Omega) that would work better than telling lies to the general assembly.

DR, your insistence, and that of Meat Hunter, that you know someone else's agenda are presumptuous and ignorant. Meat Hunter actually goes you one better by introducing profanity into his screed.

The bills that were introduced in the General Assembly proposed one thing: To transfer the jurisdiction of menhaden to the VMRC where every other marine resource is managed. Tell us how that transfer is illogical, and tell us how that transfer could cost jobs. Do you think that stripers, crabs, and flounders should be managed at the General Assembly? (PS: the GA provides NO management for menhaden. they are ignored). Expressing concern for the health of an ecologically critical resource seems like common sense. Per the ASMFC, the coastal menhaden stock has plummeted 72% since 1979. Did you not know that? Does that not cause you to wonder how low the coastal stock can go before there are serious consequences?

You also presume to speak for CCA. Can you provide a single instance from their print newsletters, electronic broadcasts, or website that advocate the position you attribute to them and irresponsibly spread around? If not, then you should stop misrepresenting a volunteer organization that invests countless hours trying to assure sustainable fisheries for you and others to enjoy.

[Tom Powers]

Meat hunter. . . A few years ago Omega fought and convinced the general assembly no to implement the management plan mandated by ASMFC (i.e. the cap that is currently in place). They did this with full knowledge that such a "stand" by Virginia would have caused a complete shutdown of the menhaden fishery state wide. It would have been illegal for anyone to possess one on a vessel no matter where it was caught. Many, including those in other commercial fisheries, were concerned when this happened.

I don't know how much the Texas owners who pull the strings at Omega care about the other fisheries in Virginia, but at that time it did not look like they cared very much at all.

I know that all of the discussions regarding harvest limits within the Chesapeake bay have to do with the fishery that harvests 95% of the fish. . . The reduction fishery. . . not the bait fishery.

All of the states that have banned the purse seine fishery did the same thing. They banned the harvest of menhaden for the purposes of reduction.

[R D]

DR, your insistence, and that of Meat Hunter, that you know someone else's agenda are presumptuous and ignorant. Meat Hunter actually goes you one better by introducing profanity into his screed.

The bills that were introduced in the General Assembly proposed one thing: To transfer the jurisdiction of menhaden to the VMRC where every other marine resource is managed. Tell us how that transfer is illogical, and tell us how that transfer could cost jobs. Do you think that stripers, crabs, and flounders should be managed at the General Assembly? (PS: the GA provides NO management for menhaden. they are ignored). Expressing concern for the health of an ecologically critical resource seems like common sense. Per the ASMFC, the coastal menhaden stock has plummeted 72% since 1979. Did you not know that? Does that not cause you to wonder how low the coastal stock can go before there are serious consequences?

You also presume to speak for CCA. Can you provide a single instance from their print newsletters, electronic broadcasts, or website that advocate the position you attribute to them and irresponsibly spread around? If not, then you should stop misrepresenting a volunteer organization that invests countless hours trying to assure sustainable fisheries for you and others to enjoy.I see nothing has changed over here since my last visit and some people are still drinking the kool-aid.

[SaltyJB]

HB 726 and SB 632 will do more more to rebuild the rockfish stock than any menhaden bill. By limiting recreational boats to only fishing 2 rods there will be a lot more fish in the water. Since less fish will leave the water then that should give the others a better chance to really reach trophy size. This will also give us more credibility since the executive director of CCA and the director of the Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament won't have to go across the 3 mile line to catch a fish.

CCA Virginia does not have an executive director, and hasn't had one for over two years.

[Kevin Smith]

Diamond Reef & Meat Hunter,

There is clearly no conspiracy to close the plant that you have been whining about, so you can stop making your false claims with no information to back them up, quit your stupid name calling about the numerous organizations involved in the effort to have science based mamagement of Menhaden and note the only ones here with political double speak, special punch, hidden agendas are you two. Clearly most Virginian's would like to see the Management of Menhaden moved to the VMRC. Maybe you should read the following quotes from articles in 4 major newspapers in Virginia and see just how ignorant you are about how Virginian's see this issue:

Virginia Pilot Jan 24th "Sen. Ralph Northam and Del. John Cosgrove have introduced legislation that would properly put menhaden regulation under the VMRC, where it would be governed by science and what's best for the Chesapeake and the fishery."

Daily Press "Instead, the nonexperts in the legislature will continue to single out menhaden as the only fishery they "manage" themselves. It's a testament to the ability of heavy lobbying and generous contributions from the only player in the market to sway decisions. And it's wrong, because this bony little fish is essential to the health of the Chesapeake Bay, some of its inhabitants, including striped bass, and an entire Atlantic coastal fishery that depends on the bay's nursery grounds."

Richmond Times Dispatch Jan 23rd "Sen. Ralph Northam (D-Nofolk) and Del. John Cosgrove (R-Chesapeake) have introduced legislation to authorize VMRC management of menhaden. The bills -- SB 185 and HB 294 -- not only would bring menhaden in line with Virginia's other fisheries but would ensure that crucial decisions would be made free of political calculation."

Fredrickburg Star Jan 21st "Given its importance, the menhaden fishery deserves the ongoing care that VMRC can offer--not the cursory attention of a political body convening once a year. This simple, bipartisan fix needs to happen this year--as just one small element in a much larger bay recovery program."

[Meat Hunter]

CCA Virginia does not have an executive director, and hasn't had one for over two years.
Is that because you lost creditability when caught fishing over the line or because your membership has dropped dramatically as the 99.7% of Virginia's recreational fishermen that you do not representt realize your BS.
Coastal Conservation - great name - I'm for coastal conservation but it is like planned parenthood. The name suggest pro family not advocating abortion.
As I've repeatedly stated Omega is not the problem with the bay. Here is an article in today's Wash. Post (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/06/AR2010020602164_2.html). Put your energy into the problem. Find united ground. VMRC loves fighting between user groups. A divided house falls. Address the real problem.
As to the mathematician, asaltedfly, there use to be enough oysters in the Chesapeake Bay to filter the entire bay in 3-5 days. if Coastal Conservation were your true goal then you would be lobbying for a oyster replenishment plan that was conducted on science and not best guess. Best guess is what VMRC's oyster replenishment director called (in a public commission meeting) the management plan he has had in place for past 16 years.
But then the once thriving oyster management use to be under the General Assembly and not VMRC. Look at all the fisheries and tell me in what direction they have gone since management has been given to VMRC. Why has the resource gotten worse? Mismanagement by VMRC or pollution. And you can't blame it on the watermen because they are under the very management that you want menhaden to be under.

[captaingeorge]

Clearly most Virginian's would like to see the Management of Menhaden moved to the VMRC.
While you are certainly entitled to your "opinion", that is all it is. Speak for yourself, and for the CCA if you like, but don't appoint yourself as spokesman for Virginians. My guess, which has the same value as your opinion, is that most Virginians have never heard of a menhadan and even less could tell you what VMRC stands for.
This is your issue. You own it. Don't drag innocent bystanders into it.:))

[Meat Hunter]

Diamond Reef & Meat Hunter,

There is clearly no conspiracy to close the plant that you have been whining about, so you can stop making your false claims with no information to back them up, quit your stupid name calling about the numerous organizations involved in the effort to have science based mamagement of Menhaden and note the only ones here with political double speak, special punch, hidden agendas are you two. Clearly most Virginian's would like to see the Management of Menhaden moved to the VMRC. Maybe you should read the following quotes from articles in 4 major newspapers in Virginia and see just how ignorant you are about how Virginian's see this issue:

Virginia Pilot Jan 24th "Sen. Ralph Northam and Del. John Cosgrove have introduced legislation that would properly put menhaden regulation under the VMRC, where it would be governed by science and what's best for the Chesapeake and the fishery."

Daily Press "Instead, the nonexperts in the legislature will continue to single out menhaden as the only fishery they "manage" themselves. It's a testament to the ability of heavy lobbying and generous contributions from the only player in the market to sway decisions. And it's wrong, because this bony little fish is essential to the health of the Chesapeake Bay, some of its inhabitants, including striped bass, and an entire Atlantic coastal fishery that depends on the bay's nursery grounds."

Richmond Times Dispatch Jan 23rd "Sen. Ralph Northam (D-Nofolk) and Del. John Cosgrove (R-Chesapeake) have introduced legislation to authorize VMRC management of menhaden. The bills -- SB 185 and HB 294 -- not only would bring menhaden in line with Virginia's other fisheries but would ensure that crucial decisions would be made free of political calculation."

Fredrickburg Star Jan 21st "Given its importance, the menhaden fishery deserves the ongoing care that VMRC can offer--not the cursory attention of a political body convening once a year. This simple, bipartisan fix needs to happen this year--as just one small element in a much larger bay recovery program."

Daily Press "Instead, the nonexperts in the legislature" - who are the experts that make these decisions at VMRC - a marina owner, an insurance agent, a nursery owner, a retired circuit court clerk, retired CEO of Chesapeake Corportion (there is one for you - got only idea how much water they use a day and where does it get discharged), a conch dealer and avid sportfisherman, and thank goodness a scientist and waterman who might actually have some knowledge

[asaltedfly]

meat hunter your comment on oysters is noted:

the oyster problem here in the bay is a sad one to say the least, and a healthy oyster poplulation would be wonderful. as it would help to heal the bay in more ways than one, economically and biologically. the aussies overcame this problem years ago and found a way for the watermen to continue to make money.
from what i have observed the politcs of oysters is just as cloudy as that of menhaden.
these two links are a brief synopsis of what the aussies are doing.

http://www.pir.sa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/33979/oyster.pdf

http://www.pristineoysters.com.au/

in 2007/2008 i partcipated in operation deep freeze, before transitioning to antarctica, i spent time in new zealand and saw how the kiwis where doing the same farming methods as the aussies.

[Meat Hunter]

Oyster farming is fine but there is much you don't understand. It is way to much for me to post here. But briefly, once farming becomes the practice it will all be done on privately controlled leased ground and those oysters will be contained. They will also be sterile as this grows an oyster faster and fatter. Much like castrating a calf. When this happens the public bottom will stop being worked. Bottom that is not worked will not produce. Kind of like a garden. If you don't work it then it will grow up in weeds. Same is true with an oyster bar but the weeds are the silt (from runoff) that will cover the shells and then we lose oyster ground is a valuable habitat. The shells get covered and then the larvae from the live oysters don't have anything to catch to.
I could continue and for a long time. Everyone in this forum should read Article 11 of our state constitution and then ask yourselves if your constitution rights have been infringed upon. They have been and the sooner you demand them back the sooner we will have a bay that is as bountiful as it was when I was a boy. That was a long time ago. To give you an idea my Daddy would throw a coin off of a pier in 8 feet of water. You could watch it flash its way to the bottom and see there it rest before diving in to get it.
Today you're afraid to swim in it much less see anything on the bottom.

[Kevin Smith]

I am not writing the articles that appear in the major papers of Virginia that represent a large majority of our great state's population.

I feel truly sorry for you, Diamond Reef and Meat Hunter. It is so very, very sad to see you three, so out of touch with reality, present your very old, extremely stale, non-factual based arguments and double speak as the "Supposed Truth".

[captaingeorge]

Clearly most Virginian's would like to see the Management of Menhaden moved to the VMRC. Maybe you should read the following quotes from articles in 4 major newspapers in Virginia and see just how ignorant you are about how Virginian's see this issue:Virginia Pilot Jan 24th "Sen. Ralph Northam and Del. John Cosgrove have introduced legislation that would properly put menhaden regulation under the VMRC, where it would be governed by science and what's best for the Chesapeake and the fishery."

Daily Press "Instead, the nonexperts in the legislature will continue to single out menhaden as the only fishery they "manage" themselves. It's a testament to the ability of heavy lobbying and generous contributions from the only player in the market to sway decisions. And it's wrong, because this bony little fish is essential to the health of the Chesapeake Bay, some of its inhabitants, including striped bass, and an entire Atlantic coastal fishery that depends on the bay's nursery grounds."

Richmond Times Dispatch Jan 23rd "Sen. Ralph Northam (D-Nofolk) and Del. John Cosgrove (R-Chesapeake) have introduced legislation to authorize VMRC management of menhaden. The bills -- SB 185 and HB 294 -- not only would bring menhaden in line with Virginia's other fisheries but would ensure that crucial decisions would be made free of political calculation."

Fredrickburg Star Jan 21st "Given its importance, the menhaden fishery deserves the ongoing care that VMRC can offer--not the cursory attention of a political body convening once a year. This simple, bipartisan fix needs to happen this year--as just one small element in a much larger bay recovery program."
Okay, I read the quotes. Not one of them expresses, or attempts to express the feelings of, as you say, most Virginians. By all indications, the ignorant one is you. Ignorant or intentionally dishonest. Take your pick.

[bob reed]

Anyone who thinks for a moment that the press represents the majority in any way has absolutely zero credibility!

[gwag]

It is not just Kevins issue,menhaden are the most important fish in the bay . Without them all the species that feed on them are at risk . If like to fish you should support stricter management of thi s resource . One business should not be allowed to eliminate a species for profit to the detriment of the rest of us ,just because you can afford to and have the technology to empty the bay doesnt mean we have to sit around and let it happen. All my rock were caught on 4-6 inch baits (nothing on a 9) that tells me something.

[captaingeorge]

Your argument is reasonable. I guess it just gets my dander up when a guy that signs his posts "CCA" starts a thread accusing elected officials of corruption and then attempts to back it up using pretzel logic and fluffy political tactics that are just as dishonest.

[SaltyJB]

I have a challenge for you guys who seem to harbor such angst over the the proposal that the menhaden fishery be managed at VMRC (where all other marine resources are managed) as opposed to remaining under the jurisdiction of the General Assembly where the fishery receives ZERO attention.
Tell us why the current arrangement (with no management for a critical public resource) is better than having the professional staff at VMRC in charge. Why should menhaden be the ONLY fishery excepted from VMRC's purview?

Please don't resort to name calling and unsupported charges. Just tell us why.

[SaltyJB]

While you are certainly entitled to your "opinion", that is all it is. Speak for yourself, and for the CCA if you like, but don't appoint yourself as spokesman for Virginians. My guess, which has the same value as your opinion, is that most Virginians have never heard of a menhadan and even less could tell you what VMRC stands for.
This is your issue. You own it. Don't drag innocent bystanders into it.:))

A survey taken at two Virginia boat shows last February and March found that 98% of the attendees surveyed favored moving jurisdiction of the menhaden fishery to VMRC.

[captaingeorge]

98% of the attendees surveyed.:clap:
Now there's a useful statistic for you.
Question: Who conducted the survey?
The cheap, transparent tricks continue.:thumbup:

At least you're staying on topic: "Corruption".:))

[rappahanockman]

I'm not sure why the CCA has been so unsuccesful with the Menhadden issue.
But it is plain that the CCA is not the answer to our problem and will probably
never make any headway into changing things in Virginia. We need a different
approach with more media involvement to get the general public to understand
the problem and get involved.

[deltaville]

It's been almost 24 hours and nobody's got an answer to saltyJB's question in post #38. The "should we or shouldn't we" piece of this thread is over if there's no response.
Re what IS to be done: I wonder if the CB Foundation's lawsuit against the EPA, for its failure to enforce the Clean Water Act, may ultimately be what solves this problem. Can we hope the Feds will call out Va? I can easily imagine a Republican governor telling a Democrat EPA to go pack sand, and I'm not sure how that would end up. Can the EPA sue Va? Can they hold the threat of that over Va's head, and accept menhaden restrictions as the price, or part of the price, to make a suit go away?

[captaingeorge]

:jackthread:

[Diamond Reef]

Have been away, The reason Omega does not want Vmrc to have control over menhaden fishing is that, The groups that want them shut down, feel that it would be easier too influence such a small group off people. Its not about science, Vmrc has the same science as amfcs. Kevin Smith and the cca and cbf know they are not going too shut Omega down in Richmond so they want a crack at Vmrc. They would be at every meeting jumping up and down and crying about menhaden. But the thing is Vmrc does not want menhaden. Steven Bowman said during the sub committee meeting that Menhaden were in good shape and that the general assembly was doing a good job. So Vmrc does not want Vmrc to control menhaden. Its just another angle. Its not about the health of menhaden. Its about closeing the doors at Omega. Sorry for the grammer sick as a dog

[CyberDish]

This has been a funny thread....
These "yahoos" run out the same old tired_

(Omega Protein, which harvests menhaden for industrial purposes and processes them in Reedville, has carved out the privileged status of having its fishery in the Chesapeake Bay regulated by politicians to whom it gives thousands of dollars in donations each year.)

_article to every newspaper on the coast, and when one of em picks it up and prints it, they say """see what this paper says? This proves it!""" "Everybody must believe us now"..
HEHE
Meat, George, Diamond,... You guys are doing a good job smackin em around... Keep up the good work!!

[rappahanockman]

I personally don't think shutting Omega down is the answer. I would just like to see
the Chesapeake Bay set aside as a "Safe Haven" for the Menhadden.

[baitbox]

Ok! I figure I can't fish so I'll give this a try even though I know it will do no good and will heap abuse upon me. Somewhere I must have deeply rooted masochistic tendancies. Marine life has been considered in the public domain, free for the taking for thousands of years by those willing to do the work and take the risks. Worked fine as long as demand was relatively low and fishing was low tech employing limited resources. But to quote Bob Dylan: " The times they are a changing". The population of the world and USA continues to grow rapidly. The demand for inexpensive protein continues to rise accordingly. The fishing techniques are now high tech with virtually unlimited resources. Now the ability to harvest marine resources exceeds the ability of those resources to replenish themselves. There are numerous examples of this taking place, bluefin tuna, striped bass, red snapper, oysters, grouper and cod to name a few. We are simply at the point where marine life can no longer be considered "free for the taking". All fishing now has to be regulated or desirable species will be fished to extiction. So the issue then becomes who gets to do the regulation? The people who fish for a living or recreationally; built in conflict of interest, generally not a good idea. Politicians? I guess it would be OK if politicians put the well being of their constituents ahead of their self interest. Frankly, I see fewer and fewer politicians willing to do that. Most appear to serve special interests and themselves. Therefore, again not a good idea. Too easily influenced to make poor decisions. A regulatory agency? As imperfect as they can be, it is probably our only choice. The management of menhaden should be moved out of the hands of self and special interest serving poliiticians into a regulatory agency. Since they are a migratory fish, it should be a federal one. Sorry gents, I agree with Kevin Smith. It is hard to condense a 5 beer discussion into a thread but I gave it a shot. Let the darts fly!!!

[captaingeorge]

Feds managing the Chesapeake Bay? Sure you want to open that can of worms?

[WhiteStoneBridge]

Frankly I could care less who manages the menhaden fishery. All I ask is that some of y'all pull your heads out of your a$$es and realize that Omega's raping the Bay of Menhaden is extremely detrimental. Please note I didn't say that I want Omega out of business. I would like the fishery to remain out in the Atlantic like EVERY OTHER state on the East Coast. Too bad the Virginia legislators are being padded by Omega's lobbyists. Do we need to regulate Maryland chicken farms too? Of course. But rather than try and regulate all the chicken farmers in Maryland and all the other farmers in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, which is HUGE, we could at least keep one of mother nature's best natural filters working full time to help clean the bay while feeding the rockfish too. I'm not sure why this is so difficult for some of you to understand. Full disclosure: I'm not a CCA member, but I am sick of the vitriolic comments shown against Kevin Smith and the other defenders of menhaden on this board. 'Nuff said.

[captaingeorge]

Frankly I could care less who manages the menhaden fishery. All I ask is that some of y'all pull your heads out of your a$$es and realize that Omega's raping the Bay of Menhaden is extremely detrimental. Please note I didn't say that I want Omega out of business. I would like the fishery to remain out in the Atlantic like EVERY OTHER state on the East Coast. Too bad the Virginia legislators are being padded by Omega's lobbyists. Do we need to regulate Maryland chicken farms too? Of course. But rather than try and regulate all the chicken farmers in Maryland and all the other farmers in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, which is HUGE, we could at least keep one of mother nature's best natural filters working full time to help clean the bay while feeding the rockfish too. I'm not sure why this is so difficult for some of you to understand. Full disclosure: I'm not a CCA member, but I am sick of the vitriolic comments shown against Kevin Smith and the other defenders of menhaden on this board. 'Nuff said.
Mr. Smith chooses to post his agenda on the Northern Neck Angler Board where he knows it will get a mixed reception eventhough he can just as easily post it on the Conservation Board which is designed for the topic.
As far as "vitriolic" comments, one needs only to read the thread to see that Mr. Smith frequently dismisses as "ignorant" anyone who doesn't agree with him. Similar to your "pull your heads out of your a$$es" comment.
You proudly proclaim yourself a "defender of menhaden" but say you are not a CCA member. Why not?
PS: Sorry to hear you are sick.;-)

[rocksandblues]

I'm all for the menhadden.

Cca does not have a good rep among legislators.

As long as someones science shows the menhadden stock as healthy they will not risk jobs

[Kevin Smith]

Trying to shut down OMEGA is another piece of misinformation being spread by OMEGA and their very high paid lobbyists.

We only want to see the scientific study promised as part of the original Menhaden Cap Legislation that was put in place by Virginia about 5 years ago. What happened to that promise made to all Virginian's by our state representatives to provide the scientific study? Sorry I forgot that they get tens of thousands of dollars every year from OMEGA and last year (after being thrown out of a large portion of North Carolina coastal waters) OMEGA donated 3-4 times as much to political campaigns in Virginia.

Kevin Smith
Coastal Conservation Association Virginia

[Diamond Reef]

Omega will be able to fish in North Carolina waters during the 2010 fishing season. They will have to be one half a mile off. This is not a law but a gentlemens agreement between North Carolina and Omega.

[captaingeorge]

...OMEGA and their very high paid lobbyists.

Kevin Smith
Coastal Conservation Association Virginia
If you have information on the salaries of these lobbyists, please post it and, for comparisons sake, please post the salaries of your lobbyists.:D

[rocksandblues]

If you have information on the salaries of these lobbyists, please post it and, for comparisons sake, please post the salaries of your lobbyists.:D

This is cca's problem. As someone who speaks to multiple legislators weekly, cca does NOT have effective lobbyists

[Meat Hunter]

Mr. Smith chooses to post his agenda on the Northern Neck Angler Board where he knows it will get a mixed reception eventhough he can just as easily post it on the Conservation Board which is designed for the topic.
As far as "vitriolic" comments, one needs only to read the thread to see that Mr. Smith frequently dismisses as "ignorant" anyone who doesn't agree with him. Similar to your "pull your heads out of your a$$es" comment.
You proudly proclaim yourself a "defender of menhaden" but say you are not a CCA member. Why not?
PS: Sorry to hear you are sick.;-)

Exactly - CCA continues to GREENWASH - Conservation of WHAT? It certainly is not the BAY or they would be vocal on the stormwater issues before the General Assembly and the State Water Control Board.

[LY2000]

Anyone who has fished the bay for at least a few decades knows the menhaden numbers are way down, if you disagree you are lying to yourself or just blind.

[rappahanockman]

We are "Preaching To The Choir" here! Very few fishermen will disagree
that the numbers and size of the bait is in decline.

We need to get JOHN Q. PUBLIC interested in this issue!

[BroadCasting]

REEDVILLE, Va. - Virginia has never been known to beat up companies that violate environmental laws, but in the case of Omega Protein Corp., in 2007, the state had just about seen enough.

Inspectors had determined that Omega Protein again was allowing toxic ammonia to escape its menhaden-processing plant, the largest of its kind on the East Coast, into a creek within earshot of the Chesapeake Bay.

It was the sixth time in eight years that pollution problems had surfaced at the Omega plant, where tens of millions of silvery little menhaden are ground up and converted into fish oil, pet food and health supplements.

Each time, the Texas-based company paid a fine and promised to do better. And each time, the violations kept coming - for excessive ammonia, bacteria, nutrients, cyanide.

But in 2007, enforcement agents with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality were especially steamed, having negotiated five cleanup orders with Omega since 2003.

Also peeved were members of the State Water Control Board, who had pledged to send a message to Omega after the last ammonia mishap: Despite the plant's huge economic impact on Reedville and the Northern Neck peninsula, their patience was up.

"It was not a good time for us," Ben Landry, an Omega spokesman based in Louisiana, said recently. "Basically, what happened was that, over time, no money was being spent to upgrade the plant.

"Our manager said he didn't have the money, and our corporate guys were saying, 'Well, you should ask for the money.' "

L. Preston Bryant, the secretary of natural resources under then-Gov. Timothy M. Kaine, summoned company executives to his office in Richmond.

"I basically told them they needed to do something pretty drastic or else," Bryant recalled. "I think they heard me loud and clear."

[captaingeorge]

Not sure why you only posted half of the article, but I could venture a guess. I'll pick up where you left off:

...Bryant recalled. "I think they heard me loud and clear."

What happened next has become lore in Reedville, a coastal fishing village affiliated with the menhaden industry for the past 150 years.

Omega executives from Houston flew into town unannounced, landing at a small corporate airstrip. They held a closed-door meeting, toured the plant on foot and by boat, then fired top managers and staff.

"They decided we needed a culture change in Reedville," Landry said.

Since then, a new general manager has been hired: Monty Deihl, a military veteran who grew up in Reedville and whose family has worked in the menhaden industry for decades.

"When I was a kid around here, septic waste went straight into the creek. And that was pretty much true with the plant," Deihl said during a site tour last month. "But we've cleaned up. This is a different place. We have to be."

Omega also hired its first environmental manager, William Purcell, who previously was a water-quality expert with the state Department of Environmental Quality.

Since 2008, Purcell has helped to design and implement new control systems for air and wastewater pollution, costing some $12 million.

Most of the new equipment, including some engineered in Chile, is on line now, Purcell said, but more work is needed to complete the transformation of this 80-year-old facility to meet a modern, greener world.

[BroadCasting]

So the situation was a huge surprise for Omega execs .....they knew nothing until they showed up in Reedville?


"Each time, the Texas-based company paid a fine and promised to do better"............so who was paying the fines up until that time?

[captaingeorge]

2007 doesn't matter.
2010 matters.