Second petition filed to restrict industrial menhaden fishing in Chesapeake Bay

Petition 392, which was filed by Bill Dunn to limit the depth of purse seine nets used for harvesting menhaden in the Chesapeake Bay. The petition’s comment period closed on August 21, and a total of 3,459 responses were submitted, 90% of which were in full support of the petition.

Of those comments:

• At least 1,485 comments are in support of the petition/further regulation from TRCP members
• At least 438 comments are in support of the petition/further regulation from Chesapeake Bay Foundation members
• At least 461 comments are in support of the petition/further regulation from National Audubon Society members

The remaining 1,075 comments were generally in support of the petition, bringing the total support to over 90%.

Following the public comment period, the Virginia Marine Resource Commission will now have 90 days to decide whether to go ahead with the proposed regulation.

Furthermore, Petition 394, which seeks to regulate the contamination from unregulated wastewater discharge from industrial menhaden vessels into Virginia waters, will remain open for public comment until September 4.

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Wayne Creed

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