In response to "Regional regulators move to scale back menhaden catch," let me say that I am just concerned and not in any way affiliated with Omega Protein.
Scaling back the menhaden catch 23 to 37 percent seems a little harsh. The same commission has already limited menhaden catch in the Chesapeake Bay since 2006.
These restrictions are not to protect the Atlantic menhaden. These restrictions are being pushed by environmental groups and sport fishermen to protect the striped bass. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, there are many causes for the decline of striped bass, including "overfishing, pollution and the degradation or loss of habitat." Some of the people pushing for restrictions on Atlantic menhaden are the very people who may have caused the near downfall of striped bass.
So let's not just point the finger at Omega Protein and burden it with penalties and restrictions to repopulate striped bass. Make everyone who contributes to the problem share the burden: The farms that use the fertilizer that is polluting the water; the factories that are contributing to acid rain and not the least of all the sport fishermen who want to catch striped bass.
In regard to the millions of dollars this will generate for the East Coast, I ask at what cost? To receive those millions a lot of people will lose their jobs. Not just Omega employees. Employees of grocery stores that provide food for the vessels will be impacted. As will employees of dry docks that repair the vessels. Employees of companies providing other support are affected. Welders, net menders, truckers and transportation companies. Good, hard-working Americans will lose their jobs so sportsmen can fish.
Spread the burden where it belongs — not just on one small community.
Read the letter at the Richmond Times-Dispatch.