New Virginia Menhaden Law (2013)
1. How is Maryland affected by the new Menhaden law?
Although apart of the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem, Maryland is not negatively affected by the new law. The new law was set in place with the goal of restoring the population of Menhaden. Maryland will be positively benefited in the end due to the harvest reduction. With the restoration of the Menhaden population, other species population in the bay will also be restored.
2. How is Virginia affected by the new law?
The new Menhaden law majorly affects Virginia; the law decreases the Menhaden harvest by 20% for two years. Although seen as a negative effect, Virginia’s economy will benefit from the law with more jobs becoming available because of thr restoration. If the law were not passed, the future of the population of Menhaden would decrease drastically. Sanctions and other species fisheries would decrease also, due to the Menhaden decline. With the passing of the law, there seems to be a brighter future for Virginia’s Menhaden fishery.
3. How are Omega-3 plant workers affected by the new law?
The Omega-3 plant has threatened to lay off many off its employees. The plant states that they do not have enough money due to the Menhaden decline to support all of its employees. Truth is, The Omega-3 Plant has more than enough to support its workers. Omega-3 businessmen earned over $900,000 in bonuses, on top of $15 million in salaries over the last two years. Playing the victim of government officials, the Omega-3 plant captured over 47 billion tons of Menhaden. Having over 250 employees, the Omega-3 plant has been well prepared for the menhaden harvest decline. Over 25 employees will soon be fired, not because Omega-3 does not have enough money to pay them, but because they would rather give out bonuses to corporate businessmen of the company.
4. What led to the new law?
The Menhaden population decline led to the passing of the new Virginia law. By 2006, the annual industrial catch in the Chesapeake was capped. Then in May 2010, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) received an alarming scientific report on the status of Atlantic Menhaden confirmation that the species had been systematically overfished for 32 of the previous 54 years. After thousands of letters and e-mails (including 1,036 from CBF advocates) and comments at public Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission ASMFC hearings urging the implementation of these new standards ASMFC voted to adopt new threshold and target fishing rates to allow the menhaden population to increase to a point where it can support a fishery and fulfill its vital ecological role.
5. Without the Law, how can Menhaden be conserved?
Without the law, Menhaden cannot be conserved. Menhaden have been overfished for many years. Menhaden have been involved in by-catch, and other harmful activities. The population would have continued to decrease if the law was not passed in Virginia.
6. What other states does the new Menhaden law affect?
Ultimately, the Menhaden law affects every state. States that are on the east coast apart of the Chesapeake Bay system will be affected when the population of Menhaden is restored. Other animal populations will hopefully soon be restored.
7. How are commercial fishermen in Virginia affected by the new law?
For now, there will be many fishermen out of work, or many selling their catch to the Omega-3 plant for little money to survive. There can be over 500 fishermen out of work due to the Menhaden harvest decline. Currently, Commercial fishermen are negatively affected by the law due to job cuts, and harvest cuts, but in the future when the Menhaden population is restored, more commercial fishermen jobs will begin to become available. With jobs becoming available in the future, Virginia's economy will soon prosper.
Although apart of the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem, Maryland is not negatively affected by the new law. The new law was set in place with the goal of restoring the population of Menhaden. Maryland will be positively benefited in the end due to the harvest reduction. With the restoration of the Menhaden population, other species population in the bay will also be restored.
2. How is Virginia affected by the new law?
The new Menhaden law majorly affects Virginia; the law decreases the Menhaden harvest by 20% for two years. Although seen as a negative effect, Virginia’s economy will benefit from the law with more jobs becoming available because of thr restoration. If the law were not passed, the future of the population of Menhaden would decrease drastically. Sanctions and other species fisheries would decrease also, due to the Menhaden decline. With the passing of the law, there seems to be a brighter future for Virginia’s Menhaden fishery.
3. How are Omega-3 plant workers affected by the new law?
The Omega-3 plant has threatened to lay off many off its employees. The plant states that they do not have enough money due to the Menhaden decline to support all of its employees. Truth is, The Omega-3 Plant has more than enough to support its workers. Omega-3 businessmen earned over $900,000 in bonuses, on top of $15 million in salaries over the last two years. Playing the victim of government officials, the Omega-3 plant captured over 47 billion tons of Menhaden. Having over 250 employees, the Omega-3 plant has been well prepared for the menhaden harvest decline. Over 25 employees will soon be fired, not because Omega-3 does not have enough money to pay them, but because they would rather give out bonuses to corporate businessmen of the company.
4. What led to the new law?
The Menhaden population decline led to the passing of the new Virginia law. By 2006, the annual industrial catch in the Chesapeake was capped. Then in May 2010, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) received an alarming scientific report on the status of Atlantic Menhaden confirmation that the species had been systematically overfished for 32 of the previous 54 years. After thousands of letters and e-mails (including 1,036 from CBF advocates) and comments at public Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission ASMFC hearings urging the implementation of these new standards ASMFC voted to adopt new threshold and target fishing rates to allow the menhaden population to increase to a point where it can support a fishery and fulfill its vital ecological role.
5. Without the Law, how can Menhaden be conserved?
Without the law, Menhaden cannot be conserved. Menhaden have been overfished for many years. Menhaden have been involved in by-catch, and other harmful activities. The population would have continued to decrease if the law was not passed in Virginia.
6. What other states does the new Menhaden law affect?
Ultimately, the Menhaden law affects every state. States that are on the east coast apart of the Chesapeake Bay system will be affected when the population of Menhaden is restored. Other animal populations will hopefully soon be restored.
7. How are commercial fishermen in Virginia affected by the new law?
For now, there will be many fishermen out of work, or many selling their catch to the Omega-3 plant for little money to survive. There can be over 500 fishermen out of work due to the Menhaden harvest decline. Currently, Commercial fishermen are negatively affected by the law due to job cuts, and harvest cuts, but in the future when the Menhaden population is restored, more commercial fishermen jobs will begin to become available. With jobs becoming available in the future, Virginia's economy will soon prosper.