Will the VAGA buck the ASFMC?

**Sea Gristle** · 08-31-2005, 09:03 AM

Is the Virginia Legislature ready to risk a complete shut down of the menhaden fishery in order to support Omega's premise that ASMFC was wrong in putting a cap in place?

A closure by the Secretary of Commerce would most probably mean stopping all harvest of menhaden, this includes bait for crab pots, chum, and even peanut bunker used for flounder bait.

Is the legislature ready to risk forcing the crabbers, with $50,000,000 in landings and probably $250,000,000 in economic impact, to buy their bait from out of state harvesters? Further, if it is like what happened with horseshoe crabs, there is a possibility that they may not even be allowed buy from out of state.

**Capt. Mike Anderson** · 09-02-2005, 06:33 AM

Why would the VGA have a problem with the cap?
A 5-year average was more then Omega could hope for.
Maybe the Omega opposition could push for a fuel subsidy also. That would show them. [sad]

**Sea Gristle** · 09-02-2005, 12:39 PM

They don't like caps on political contributions[grin]

**junebug007** · 10-13-2005, 08:19 AM

Why would the VAGA support a suggested action by the ASMFC which attempts to instruct the Commonwealth on how to allocate its own fishery resources between Virginia fishermen? The Commission is in violation of its own formal standards.

Moreover, as no conservation rationale exists to support the ASMFC suggestion, the issue digresses into a state's rights issue. Ultimately, Virginia is a sovereign state and can manage its in-state natural resources as it choses.

By next Spring, the ASMFC will likely emerge with no quota, no industry assisted research, and a black eye.

**Digger** · 10-13-2005, 09:54 AM

junebug007 and to do that they will have a leasta one year clouser and I believe a loss of certian Federal funds. It would be ugly to say the least.

**LinMar** · 10-13-2005, 09:55 AM

[Q]junebug007 originally wrote:
Why would the VAGA support a suggested action by the ASMFC which attempts to instruct the Commonwealth on how to allocate its own fishery resources between Virginia fishermen? [/Q]

I believe this happens every year with rec/comm limits on Rock, Flounder etc.

**Sea Gristle** · 10-13-2005, 10:38 AM

I believe the reason why The US government can tell the VAGA what to do is because the fish are technically ATLANTIC Menhaden and therefore are a migratory species that pay no attention to jurisdictional boundaries. Just like flounder Rock etc.

**junebug007** · 10-13-2005, 04:45 PM

LOL! Funny, funny stuff. Keep it coming! [grin]

**Capt. Mike Anderson** · 10-16-2005, 07:41 PM

[Q]junebug007 originally wrote:
LOL! Funny, funny stuff. Keep it coming! [grin]
[/Q]

The VAGA doesn't stand a chance in this one. Don't believe me, do some research. New York and New Jersey recently tried to flex their independence and all it got them was a cry of Uncle.
VAGA votes to not go along with the ASMFC. In steps the Secretary of Commerce. All he will do is mandate a species is not to be caught in VA and back it up with enforcement from the Coast Guard. VAGA will cry uncle on this one.

Unfortunately five years is too long to wait. The problem should be corrected by next spring.

**junebug007** · 10-19-2005, 12:03 PM

[Q]The VAGA doesn't stand a chance in this one. Don't believe me, do some research. New York and New Jersey recently tried to flex their independence and all it got them was a cry of Uncle.
VAGA votes to not go along with the ASMFC. In steps the Secretary of Commerce. All he will do is mandate a species is not to be caught in VA and back it up with enforcement from the Coast Guard. VAGA will cry uncle on this one. [/Q]

Wrong. Completely different circumstances. Most importantly, overfishing is not occurring within the menhaden fishery. Addendum II is an attempt to address so-called localized depletion, not to address overfishing. The ASMFC does not know if LD is occurring, nor can the ASMFC even comprehensively define what LD is!

If you think the Secy of Commerce is going to close Virginia's commercial and recreational menhaden fisheries, based on pure, unbased speculation to address an undefined condition which is, in fact, more likely a result (if it is occurring) of the overabundance of striped bass, then I've got a bridge to sell you.

By the way, in case you weren't keeping tabs at the last ASMFC Menhaden Board meeting, both the US Dept. of Commerce (NMFS) and the US Dept. of the Interior (US Fish and Wildlife Service) both publicly supported Omega's proposal to voluntarily cap Bay harvests at 131,000 mt. What is the current ASMFC-proposed bay harvest quota?[grin]

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