RICHMOND, Va. (WFXR) — Virginia lawmakers have not said much about a vote by the House of Delegates Rules-Studies Subcommittee to shelve until the 2025 legislative session House Bill 19. The measure would fund a study of menhaden numbers in the Chesapeake Bay, as well as the impact of environmental change and various types of fishing on the vital baitfish.
“I certainly think it is needed,” said Del. Betsy Carr (D-Richmond) who was one of the co-patrons of the bill. “More science can’t hurt.”
However, when it came to a voice vote in the committee, Carr did not voice opposition to delaying the measure until 2025.
Despite that, Carr said the delay is the result of pressure on her colleagues from Omega Protein.
“I don’t know how it went down if they didn’t lobby,” said Carr during a phone interview on Saturday February 3.
That is something Omega denies.
“No one asked a member of the general assembly to kill HB 19,” said company spokesperson Ben Landry.
Landry says Omega took no position on the bill even though it was party to a stakeholder group that discussed the direction the research should take. Landry says the company still had questions about how the research would be conducted, as well as the timeline of the study.
“I wouldn’t confuse a lack of engaged support for passage with actively trying to kill the legislation,” Landry said in an email to WFXR News.
Omega is the largest and primary menhaden reduction fishing company on the Chesapeake. The company uses industrial scale fishing methods to harvest menhaden from the estuary every year.
Various conservation and fishing groups have criticized Omega and suggested the company’s fishing methods are leading to a localized shortage of menhaden. That, in turn, those groups say has led to a decline in sportfish numbers.
In addition, a recent study the College of William and Mary indicated ospreys, a type of raptor that feeds heavily on menhaden, are also in decline because of a lack of food for their young.
Omega says the most recent science show menhaden populations are healthy on a coastwide basis.
Del. Luke Torian is the chairperson of the subcommittee. His office responded to WFXR’s request for comment and clarification with what appeared to be constituent response form email.
It reads in part:
“Thank you for your correspondence regarding House Bill 19. Delegate Torian values feedback from his constituents and benefits when they highlight crucial issues for him. I understand that this is an important issue to you, and I will relay your message to the delegate
He thanks you for your advocacy on this issue and will take your comments into serious consideration when evaluating the merits of this piece of legislation. Again, thank you for your input on House Bill 19. You can monitor this and all other legislation on http://lis.virginia.gov.”
WFXR News responded to the email to let the delegate know we are not a constituent, that as journalists we cannot and do not advocate or take a position on the bill, but we do want to report the delegate’s position on the bill, and anything he has to say about why the action to delay was taken.
WFXR News has not heard back from Del. Torian.
The members of the House of Delegates Rules-Studies Subcommittee are:
- Del. Luke Torian (D-Prince William County)
- Del. Betsy Carr (D-Richmond)
- Del. Cliff Hayes (D-Chesapeake)
- Del. Dan Helmer (D-Fairfax County)
- Del. Terry Austin (R-Buchanan)
- Del. Israel O’Quinn (R-Bristol)
- Del. Don Scott (D-House Speaker)
A number of emails and phone calls have been sent to Del. Terry Austin of Buchanan, the only Roanoke area delegate on the subcommittee. So far, he has not responded.
Del. Carr it is unlikely the menhaden study bill could be revived for consideration this session. Conservation groups are disappointed with the delay and say the sooner the research is done the sooner there will be answers about a resource vital to the commonwealth.
