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
Wright, Thomas C. Jr. Victoria, (804) 698-1061 DelTWright@house.virginia.gov
Orrock, Robert D. Sr. Thornburg, (804) 698-1054 DelBOrrock@house.virginia.gov
Scott, Edward T. Culpeper, (804) 698-1030 DelEScott@house.virginia.gov
Marshall, Daniel W. III, Danville, (804) 698-1014 DelDMarshall@house.virginia.gov
Lohr, Matthew J. Harrisonburg, (804) 698-1026 DelMLohr@house.virginia.gov
Poindexter, Charles D. Glade Hill, (804) 698-1009 DelCPoindexter@house.virginia.gov
Pogge, Brenda L. Yorktown, (804) 698-1096 DelBPogge@house.virginia.gov
Knight, Barry (804) 698-1081 DelBKnight@house.virginia.gov
Bell, Richard P. (804) 698-1020 DelDBell@house.virginia.gov
Edmunds, James E. II (804) 698-1060 DelJEdmunds@house.virginia.gov
Plum, Kenneth R. Reston, (804) 698-1036 DelKPlum@house.virginia.gov
Shuler, James M. Blacksburg, (804) 698-1012 DelJShuler@house.virginia.gov
Lewis, Lynwood W. Jr. Accomac, (804) 698-1000 DelLLewis@house.virginia.gov
Bulova, David L. Fairfax Station, (804) 698-1037 DelDBulova@house.virginia.gov
Sickles, Mark D. (804) 698-1043 DelMSickles@house.virginia.gov
Englin, David L. (804) 698-1045 DelDEnglin@house.virginia.gov
James, Matthew (804) 698-1080 DelMJames@house.virginia.gov
Torian, Luke E. (804) 698-1052 DelLTorian@house.virginia.gov

2010 Va. Senate: Agriculture, Conservation, and Natural Resources
Ticer, Patricia S. (Ch) (804) 698-7530 district30@senate.virginia.gov
Whipple, Mary Margaret (804) 698-7531 district31@senate.virginia.gov
Hanger, Emmett W., Jr. (804) 698-7524 district24@senate.virginia.gov
Watkins, John (804) 698-7510 district10@senate.virginia.gov
Reynolds, Wm. Roscoe (804) 698-7520 district20@senate.virginia.gov
Puckett, Phillip P. (804) 698-7538 district38@senate.virginia.gov
Ruff, Frank M. Jr. (804) 698-7515 district15@senate.virginia.gov
Blevins, Harry B. (804) 698-7514 district14@senate.virginia.gov
Deeds, R. Creigh (804) 698-7525 district25@senate.virginia.gov
Obenshain, Mark D. (804) 698-7526 district26@senate.virginia.gov
McDougle, Ryan T. (804) 698-7504 district04@senate.virginia.gov
McEachin, Donald A. (804) 698-7509 district09@senate.virginia.gov
Petersen, Chap (804) 698-7534 district34@senate.virginia.gov
Northam, Ralph S. (804) 698-7506 district06@senate.virginia.gov
Stuart, Richard H. (804) 698-7528 district28@senate.virginia.gov

E-mails are perfectly acceptable. For Fax number, call representative’s office.

You can mail letters to any of the above:
Name, General Assembly Building, Richmond, Virginia 23218-0406

Identify your own delegate and senator by going to: http://conview.state.va.us/whosmy.nsf/main?openform

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