The most important fish in the sea needs your help Atlantic Menhaden – Ecologically Critical
The alarming decline of the menhaden population threatens the entire Chesapeake Bay ecosystem. Since 1979, the coastal population has declined 72%. Predators like rockfish, bluefish, weakfish, osprey, seabirds, etc. are being deprived of their major food source, while industrial purse seiners are allowed to remove up to 240,000,000 pounds per year.

Legislation has just been introduced in the 2010 General Assembly to transfer the management of Menhaden from the legislature to the Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC), where this ecologically critical Bay species will finally be subject to science-based management. CCA Virginia wholeheartedly supports this legislation.

You Can Make History. Take Action Now. Contact your state senator and delegate, and ask them to support SB185 and HB294. Identify your delegate and senator by going to: http://conview.state.va.us/whosmy.nsf/main?openform
E-mail, fax, write, or call. Just let them know that you want them to support the “Menhaden Transfer Bills.” SB185 and HB294.

After contacting your own two legislators, start e-mailing and calling the legislators who sit on the committees that will decide whether these two bills go forward. They are shown on the opposite side of this sheet. E-mails work fine, and cost you little time and zero money.

For more info on Menhaden, go to:
chesbay.org or savethefish.org/position_statements.htm#menhade

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2010 Va. House: Agriculture, Chesapeake, and Natural Resources
Morgan, Harvey (Ch) Gloucester, (804) 698-1098 DelHMorgan@house.virginia.gov
Ware, R. Lee (VCh) Powhatan, (804) 698-1065 DelLWare@house.virginia.gov
Cox, M. Kirkland Cox Chesterfield, (804) 698-1066 DelKCox@house.virginia.gov
Sherwood, Beverly J. Winchester, (804) 698-1029 DelBSherwood@house.virginia.gov Continue Reading »