By james art 
Roanoke, WFXR (WFXR) – The Home of Bill 2713 (HB2713) will require the Virginia community to conduct a study of the status of the Atlantic Menhaden in the part of Virginia by Chesapik Bay. This is a problem with hot buttons that is discussed among the outdoor protection groups and the fishing industry for years.
So where are Virginia’s leading candidates for the governor of the issue?
The Republican Winsome Earle-Sears did not respond to WFXR’s requests for her position on the Menhaden Study Study Bill.
Democrat Abigail Spangberger did not make this bill more special, but she says it is in favor of the idea of understanding more about the number of menhaden and how different environmental and industrial factors play in their status.
“More information is always powerful and useful in making a decision,” said Spangberger. “As for decay in question and completely understanding, perhaps the effects, as a matter of principle, I generally support these efforts.”
Governor Glen Youngkin also did not take a position on the bill, although his office issued the following statement:
“Since the first day, the Virginia Maritime Resources Administration and the Virginia Maritime Resources have been engaged in all stakeholders in Virginia’s commercial and entertainment sectors on these issues and the importance of Commonsense solutions to protect and clean the bay. Last year, VMRC accepted a memorandum of understanding with the Menhaden Industry to minimize and soften the spills of fish through strict fishing restrictions during peak public use, geographical restrictions on harvest and clear spill response protocols. Cooperative approaches such as these are important steps to promote transparency and accountability in the industry, while protecting our maritime environment for all users and economic activities of Virginia who rely on the bay.
The administration and VMRC will continue to work with all bay users to ensure the accountability and management of Virginia’s natural resources. The governor will carefully review all the legislation that is sent to him during the General Assembly in 2025. “
Protection and sports fishing groups are critical of industrial fishery fishing in the bay and say the local number has decreased, leading to a decline in various fish and wild animals. Virginia is the only country on the Atlantic coast that allows fishing for industrial mouth reductions such as Chesapike Bay.
There is only one company practicing fishing for industrial reductions for Menhaden in Virginia, based in Raymille Omega Protein. Omega says Menhaden stocks are solid and durable. They indicate studies throughout the end of the coast to support this position.
However, no recent localized studies have been performed to establish the population in the part of the Virginia by Chesapike.
The R-Stafford delegate is the HB2713 cartridge.
“There are no contemporary studies of Menhaden’s population in the bay,” Del Mild said. “It makes sense that we need to find out where we are actually with menhaden and whether there are any links between rock fish populations, Osprey populations and Menhaden’s catch.”
The bill is in front of the subcommittee of the rules of House Virginia. This is the same subcommittee that last year killed the latest efforts to adopt a study bill. The proposal was submitted by voice vote of the subcommittee without explanation or debate.
WFXR News turned to members of this subcommittee to understand their positions on the current bill, but they have not received answers so far.