Nine Coastal State Governors Request Menhaden Moratorium

In reaction to Omega Protein’s purposeful and blatant over-fishing of Menhaden in the Chesapeake Bay, nine coastal governors have asked for a moratorium .

(Dec 12 2019) … The Menhaden or bunker issue with Omega Protein purposely over-fishing the Chesapeake bay cap has created a huge stir. Yesterday nine coastal state governors all signed a letter, (bottom of article) petitioning Wilbur Ross, the Secretary of Commerce, to put a moratorium on the reduction fishery done solely by Omega Protein. This will protect the Chesapeake bay menhaden fishery.

The are other issues with the menhaden fishery, not just the removal of an extra 35 million pounds of fish, but also dead discards. By catch discards from menhaden fishing is staggering. You hear about it all the time, and there are videos on the internet. Just google Menhaden or bunker and do some research. Sport Fishing Magazine recently put out this article Shocking Videos Show Dozens of Dead Bull Redfish Killed by Menhaden Boats.

Menhaden are not only an important food source for predatory fish, whales, seals, and birds they are also estuary cleaners. Menhaden are filter feeders, which help keep estuaries and bays clean. Drastic reduction of their numbers not only starves wildlife that depends on menhaden for food, but can cause drastic changes in water clarity and chemistry. Menhaden have been called the most important fish in the sea for a reason. Everything connects back to Menhaden.

If you are an east coast angler I don’t have to tell you how important bunker (menhaden) is to the entire east coast’s environment as well as the economy as a whole. The Omega Protein reduction fishery company knows how valuable these fish are to the entire east coast, they wrote and hand delivered a long letter to Secretary Ross. Explaining why they should be allowed to do what they do, it is twenty-one pages long.
Omega Protein Inc.’s Response to Atlantic States Marine Fisheries
Commission’s Request for a Moratorium on the Atlantic Menhaden Fishery In the Commonwealth of Virginia’s State Waters