Virginia Marine Resources Commission – Page 2

Tag Archives: Virginia Marine Resources Commission

Survey shows number of blue crabs in Chesapeake Bay rising

April 27, 2015 Mid Atlantic

An annual survey by marine officials shows a significant increase in the number of blue crabs in the Chesapeake Bay. The Virginia Marine Resources Commission says the overall bay-wide crab population increased from 297 million crabs to 411 million crabs, a 38 percent increase. The long, cold winter kept the numbers from being higher. The survey shows about 28 percent of all adult crabs in Maryland died due to the cold weather. Read the rest here 16:25

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From Virginia, another idea for reversing crab decline

August 23, 2014 Mid Atlantic

The latest idea for pulling Chesapeake blue crabs back from the brink of disaster — a fascinating and frustrating subject about which everyone seems to have an opinion — comes from the watermen who harvest and sell crabs in the Virginia end of the bay. Read more here 16:55

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Dead menhaden reported in Chesapeake Bay leads to Inquisition by Sport Fishers, explanation by VRMC

July 31, 2014 Mid Atlantic

Experts still aren’t sure what killed thousands of dead menhaden that local fishermen reported floating in a long line near the northern stretch of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel over the weekend. And they say they might never know. Read more here Social media posts from area fishermen indicate a commercial boat from Omega Protein was in the area at the time. Read the comments here! 19:15

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Virginia Marine Resources Commission revokes licenses over oyster violations

July 24, 2014 Mid Atlantic

NEWPORT NEWS — The commercial fishing licenses of four local watermen were revoked Tuesday for numerous and repeated criminal oyster violations. Two of the watermen, , are from Gloucester. Daniel T. West is from Newport News and Kenneth W. Jenkins lives in Norfolk. Read more here 07:40

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VMRC approves 10 percent reduction in blue crab harvest – New regulations would shut down blue crab dredging, limit number of bushels

June 25, 2014 Mid Atlantic

NEWPORT NEWS — A weak female blue crab population, continued predator infiltration and a need to conserve juvenile blue crab growth have prompted members of the Virginia Marine Resources Commission to move forward with staff recommendations to reduce the female blue crab harvest by 10 percent. (anyone mention the reduction to the predators?) Read more here 12:33

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Scientists unable to completely explain the mystery of the missing blue crabs

November 7, 2013 Mid Atlantic

A year and a half ago, there seemed to be no shortage of good news about blue crabs. The annual winter dredge survey estimated 764 million blue crabs were in the Bay, the most in 19 years and a huge jump from the previous year. The governors of Maryland and Virginia issued a joint news release talking about the “extraordinary explosion in juvenile blue crab abundance.” [email protected] 13:19

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Virginia Gov. Robert F. McDonnell signs oyster replenishment bill

April 10, 2013 Mid Atlantic

NEWPORT NEWS — The Virginia Marine Resources Commission is preparing to embark on the largest state-funded oyster replenishment initiative in state history, thanks to a record $2 million appropriated in the budget by Gov. Robert F. McDonnell and the Virginia General Assembly. continued

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Virginia Marine Police issue 500 citations for oyster poaching

March 11, 2013 Mid Atlantic

Newport News, Va. – An ongoing Virginia Marine Police operation to protect a resurgent oyster population has resulted in 500 citations issued to commercial watermen over the past two years for violating oyster catch restrictions. “Oyster poaching now borders on an epidemic,” said Marine Resources Commissioner Jack Travelstead. Read more

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EDITORIAL: Menhaden oversight getting serious [The Virginian-Pilot]

November 26, 2012 Mid Atlantic

Members of the General Assembly have persistently rejected measures turning authority over to the Virginia Marine Resources Commission, which is charged with regulating all other fisheries. An amendment pending approval by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission next month might be enough, however, to lead lawmakers to finally recognize their own limitations. The commission, composed of the 15 Atlantic coast states, coordinates conservation and management of fisheries because, according to its website, “fish do not adhere to political boundaries.” http://www.equities.com/news/headline-story?dt=2012-11-26&val=753162&cat=material

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Ocean Resource Privatization

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The New England groundfish debacle (Part III): who or what is at fault? Nils E. Stolpe/FishNet

It took me a while to decide how to most accurately describe the situation that has been visited upon the New England fishing communities that are and since colonial times have been dependent on the groundfish fisheries.

NILS STOLPE: The New England groundfish debacle (Part IV): Is cutting back harvest really the answer?

While it’s a fact that’s hardly ever acknowledged, the assumption in fisheries management is that if the population of a stock of fish isn’t at some arbitrary level, it’s because of too much fishing. Hence the term “overfished.” Hence the mandated knee jerk reaction of the fisheries managers to not enough fish; cut back on fishing. What of other factors? They don’t count. It’s all about fishing, because fishing is all that the managers can control; it’s their Maslow’s Hammer. When it comes to the oceans it seems as if it’s about all that the industry connected mega-foundations that support the anti-fishing ENGOs with hundreds of millions of dollars a year in “donations” are interested in controlling. Read the article here

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