Legislation and Conservation - 2010

April 2010
by Matt Balazik

Local News:

• Black Sea Bass Ban Extension: The national marine fisheries service (NMFHS) has extended the black sea bass ban to May 22. It is illegal to possess black sea bass.
  
  
• Blueback Herring Restoration: Mike Odom of the Harrison Lake Fish Hatchery and I have been collecting and spawning blueback herring in Herring Creek during this year's spawning run. I am very proud to say we have produced over 3.5 million eggs so far this year.
  
  
  LEFT: Mike mixing some blueback sperm and eggs. MIDDLE: Fertilized eggs in hatching jar, about 850,000 in this jar. The eggs are dark because they are treated with a tannic acid solution to stop the eggs from sticking together. RIGHT: Extra male blueback herring to be used if more females become available.
  
  
• Sturgeon Report: Nothing!!! I am very frustrated at this time. Hopefully I'll have some good news about this soon. On a positive note, I would like to extend my gratitude to Vic Skakandy, Scott Johnson, and Stuart Lee for their recent donations to the VCU Rice Center sturgeon research program.

Regional News:

• A huge battle is going on over menhaden management along the entire coast. It is time for us to act and make sure menhaden have proper management. Menhaden are arguably one of the most important vertebrate not only to the Chesapeake Bay but to the entire East Coast of the US. To help ensure proper mangement is put into place please act now.
  
  1. Send a letter via e-mail or Fax to ASMFC’s Brad Spear before April 25.

Brad Spear
Senior FMP Coord. for Policy
ASMFC 6th Floor
1444 Eye St. NW
Washington, DC 2005
Fax: 202 289-6051
comments@asmfc.org

2. Send a letter preferably via U. S. Mail to each of your state’s ASMFC Commissioners before April 29:

In Virginia:

Catherine Davenport
1005 Poplar Neck Road
White Stone, VA 22578
dymer@kaballero.com

Del. Lynwood W. Lewis Jr.
P.O. Box 760
Accomac, VA 2330
Fax: 757 787-2749
DelLLewis@house.virginia.gov

Steve Bowman
Commissioner VMRC
2600 Washington Ave. 3rd Floor,
Newport News, VA 23607
steve.bowman@mrc.virginia.gov

3. Send letter via U. S. Mail to your state Governor before April 29.

In Virginia:

Gov. Robert McDonnell
Governor Robert McDonnell
Patrick Henry Bldg. 3rd Floor
1111 E. Broad St.
Richmond, VA 23219