Saving Seafood

VIRGINIA: Menhaden fleet agrees to limit where it fishes in the bay

April 23, 2023 — The controversial menhaden fleet that supplies Omega Proteins’ Reedville plant is promising to limit areas in the Chesapeake Bay where it will set its nets and catch fish.

In a memorandum of understanding with the state, Ocean Harvesters said it wants to limit potential areas of conflict with other users of the bay.

Conservationists and recreational fishermen had pushed for limits — with some calling for an outright ban on catching menhaden in the bay — after two spills of dead menhaden last year washed ashore.

Read the full article at Richmond Times-Dispatch 

VIRGINIA: Virginia’s Menhaden Fishery, Commonwealth of Virginia Sign Memorandum of Understanding That Will Limit Fishing in the Chesapeake Bay

April 23, 2023 — Ocean Harvesters, the largest participant in Virginia’s historic menhaden fishery, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Commonwealth of Virginia and other menhaden fishing companies that will put new limits on menhaden fishing in the Chesapeake Bay. This MOU will limit potential sources of conflict between the fishery and other users of the Bay and is part of the fishery’s efforts to continue to be responsible stewards of our shared marine resources.

Ocean Harvesters has an exclusive, long-term supply agreement with Omega Protein of Reedville, Virginia, which has operated continuously in the area since 1878.

“The new memorandum of understanding successfully addresses concerns that have been raised about how the menhaden fishery can best coexist with other user groups in the Bay,” said Monty Deihl, CEO of Ocean Harvesters. “This MOU further illustrates that the menhaden fishery will work with the Bay community to alleviate concerns and to remain operating responsibly and sustainably here in Virginia.”

Read the full article at Yahoo Finance

VRIGINIA: Endangered North Atlantic right whale washes ashore in Virginia Beach

February 15, 2023 — A 43-foot North Atlantic right whale washed ashore Sunday near Aeires on the Bay Park.

A necropsy was slated for today by the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center Stranding Response Program and NOAA. Officials estimate the whale was 20 years old.

Last week, the Virginia Beach Marine Patrol pulled a dead 36-foot humpback whale ashore near First Landing State Park. In the humpback’s necropsy, the stranding team used a technique they call “peeling the banana,” in which they split the whale from mouth to tail, catalog and take samples. The samples help researchers determine the mammal’s diet, the health of its organs and potential cause of death.

“It is helpful to know that, even though it has passed away, we can still learn something from it,” said Caryl Thompson, chief operating officer at the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center.

The whale was then buried on the beach.

Read the full article at The Virginian-Pilot

Third dead whale found miles from offshore wind farm in less than a week

February 15, 2023 — The third dead whale was discovered in less than a week off the southeastern coast of Virginia, miles from Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW), one of two operational wind farms in federal waters.

Over the weekend, a critically endangered North Atlantic right whale was discovered washed ashore near Chic’s Beach which is located in Virginia Beach, Virginia, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) confirmed to Fox News Digital on Monday. According to local news outlets, there was no immediate cause of death and the whale didn’t appear to have any entanglement marks.

The discovery of the beached right whale came just two days after a humpback whale was found dead along the shoreline in Cape Charles, Virginia, and five days after a dead humpback whale was found off the coast of First Landing State Park in Virginia Beach.

“There have been 3 large whale strandings in VA over the past week, two humpbacks and more recently a North Atlantic right whale,” NOAA spokesperson Allison Ferreira told Fox News Digital in an email. “We are investigating all of these incidents in collaboration with our stranding network partners.”

Read the full article at Fox News

VIRGINIA: Bill to require study of menhaden in Chesapeake Bay scaled back

February 14, 2023 — A proposal to study the menhaden population in the Chesapeake Bay was scaled back in the House Monday.

An earlier version of the bill from Sen. Lynwood Lewis, D-Accomack, asked the Virginia Institute of Marine Science to study the ecology, fishery impacts and economic importance of menhaden within the Chesapeake Bay over a two-year period.

But on Monday a House Rules subcommittee voted to amend the bill to only require VIMS to provide details of a potential study’s scope, including methodology, possible stakeholders, costs and timeline.

“I think your issue is totally legitimate, but we need to look at the health of the Bay in toto,” said Del. Bobby Orrock, R-Spotsylvania, noting studies can take five to 10 years to complete.

Read the full article at Virginia Mercury

VIRGINIA: Dominion ‘on track’ with $9.8 bln Virginia offshore wind farm

February 9, 2023 — Dominion Energy Inc (D.N) executives said on Wednesday that the electric utility’s $9.8 billion offshore Virginia wind farm is on track and on budget, having recently entered a critical phase of the environmental review process.

The roughly month-long crucial public comment period on the environmental impact study of the 2.6 gigawatt project will end in February, Dominion Chief Executive Officer Robert Blue said on the Richmond, Virginia-based company’s quarterly earnings call.

“As it relates to the project’s execution, it’s very much on track and on budget,” Blue said, adding that Dominion is working with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and other overseers of U.S. offshore wind development.

Read the full article at Reuters

VIRGINIA: Senate advances Dominion bill with amendment underscoring tie to wind project

February 7, 2023 — After the House Commerce and Energy Committee last week gutted Dominion Energy’s sweeping proposal for changing the way it is regulated, the state Senate on Monday trimmed a key section of the same measure.

The issue is the profit rate the electric monopoly is allowed to earn — an important element when the State Corporation Commission reviews its rates.

But in the background, as the Senate action made clear, is Dominion’s concern about financing its $9 billion offshore wind farm.

The clue comes in an amendment to the Dominion bill proposed by Senate Minority Leader Tommy Norment, R-James City: a time limit on the bill’s directive that the SCC must use the average profit rate of large southeastern utilities as the profit rate it allows for Dominion.

Proposed menhaden ban blocked in Virginia legislature

January 25, 2023 — Virginia state House Bill 1383, recently introduced by Delegate Tim Anderson of Virginia Beach to shut down Virginia’s menhaden reduction fishery in all of the state’s territorial ocean waters and inland Bay waters for two years, was unanimously tabled Jan. 18 by the Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources Committee.

The vote was 22-0 to table and “pass by indefinitely.”  The bill has a delayed effective date of Nov. 18, 2023 and a sunset date of Nov. 22, 2025.

“Normally when they vote PBI it means the bill dies forever unless someone brings it back next year,” said Montgomery Deihl, vice president of operations for Omega Protein in Reedville, Va.  “But the fact that it was a unanimous vote sends a strong signal that there’s no support for it.”

Read the full article at National Fisherman

Virginia’s seafood economy hits USD 1 billion mark, gets federal investment

January 10, 2023 — Virginia’s seafood economy has an estimated annual value of more than USD 1 billion (EUR 930 million), according to a new study.

Among all U.S. states, Virginia ranks fourth in seafood landings, with the value of its seafood products exceeding USD 200 million (EUR 186.2 million) in 2020. The state is also one of the top producers of oysters along the U.S. East Coast.

Read the full article SeafoodSource

VIRGINIA: State regulators approve Dominion Energy plans for offshore wind farm – with customers set to pay

December 19, 2022 — Dominion Energy’s planned wind farm got crucial approval from Virginia regulators this week.

The company filed its application with the State Corporation Commission last year. It’s been a long process since then, with legal back-and-forths between environmental groups, state officials and others.

The SCC’s new order approves an agreement Dominion reached with the Attorney General’s office this fall. It outlines who must pay for the billions of dollars the project is expected to cost.

Read the full article at WHRO