We, the undersigned citizens of Virginia, urge our leaders to take immediate action to safeguard Atlantic menhaden and the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem by limiting industrial fishing operations such as those conducted by Omega Protein.

Economic Concerns
Industrial overharvesting of menhaden threatens Virginia’s $1.5 billion recreational fishing industry, tourism, and waterfront property values. As menhaden populations decline, striped bass and other gamefish suffer, directly impacting local businesses and the coastal economy. Past violations by Omega Protein nearly triggered a federal moratorium, putting entire fisheries and thousands of jobs at risk. A single foreign-owned company is profiting disproportionately from this shared public resource, while Virginians are left with the environmental and economic consequences.

Environmental Concerns
Menhaden are a keystone species essential to the survival of striped bass, dolphins, whales, ospreys, and other wildlife. Industrial fishing is heavily concentrated in the Chesapeake Bay, yet there is little Bay-specific research to guide sustainable management. Conservation groups report that Omega Protein has even blocked efforts to fund and conduct studies on Virginia's menhaden population. The decline of menhaden negatively affects water quality, disrupts the food chain, and leads to bycatch and mass fish kills. Virginia is the only East Coast state that permits this scale of reduction fishing, putting its waters and wildlife at greater risk than neighboring states.

Our Requests

• Restrict industrial menhaden fishing in sensitive nursery and feeding areas of the Chesapeake Bay to protect its most vulnerable ecosystems.
• Establish ecosystem-based catch limits that account for predator species and maintain a balanced food web.
• Require real-time vessel tracking, detailed bycatch reporting, and spill response plans to ensure accountability and transparency.
• Strengthen the authority and resources of the Virginia Marine Resources Commission so that management decisions are guided by Bay-specific, science-driven research.

The Chesapeake Bay is one of Virginia’s greatest treasures, and its health is vital to our way of life. We urge state leaders to take action now to protect this irreplaceable resource for the people, wildlife, and communities that depend on it.