Call to Action Hold Canadian-Owned Menhaden Harvester Accountable Anglers sign petition to uphold non-compliance finding against company ignoring Chesapeake Bay conservation measures Omega Protein, the sole commercial harvester of East Coast menhaden, has brazenly announced that it knowingly went over its menhaden quota by almost 35 million pounds. The foreign-owned company harvested 67,000 metric tons (147,668,000 pounds) of menhaden from Virginia waters of the Chesapeake Bay and has been unapologetic about its intentions to no longer abide by the harvest cap lawfully set by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC). For this reason, the ASMFC voted unanimously in October to find the state of Virginia out of compliance with its menhaden fishery management plan. Virginia is the only East Coast state that still allows reduction harvesters in state waters. Commercial harvest of menhaden in the Chesapeake Bay has been under intense scrutiny for decades due to its concentrated removals of a critical food source for striped bass and other important sportfish in their primary spawning grounds on the East Coast. Some studies indicate the menhaden fishery could be reducing striped bass populations by as much as 30 percent. Anglers have applauded the ASMFC for its decision to find the […]
Monthly Archives: November 2019
October 20th marked the return of the CCA Savannah Crab Tournament to our local waterways. A once anticipated event in our area, this was the first crab tournament CCA Savannah has hosted in over 5 years. Thanks to planning by Savannah Chapter President, Austin Thurlow, the Savannah team revamped the event with all new sponsors and donors. Savannah Bend Marina were our gracious hosts on what started out with ugly weather, but quickly became a beautiful Sunday. Prizes were awarded to the 10 heaviest male crabs per team, with 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners. All junior anglers in attendance were gifted Rising Tide Memberships made possible by a donation from a local angler. All the crabs caught participants, and also by Ben Goldberg, were promptly prepared by Savannah’s 5 star cooking team. All in all, it was great a great start to what will be an annual event once again in the Savannah area.