Stripers Forever – while our focused mission is make striped bass a game fish, SF
has consistently supported efforts to control the harvest of menhaden in Chesapeake Bay. Menhaden are a critically important food for stripers as well as filter feeders that play a role in cleaning the waters of the Bay. Last year the Atlantic States Marine Fishery Commission, a 15-state commission that regulates shared fisheries on the East Coast, mandated that Virginia implement a harvest cap on their landings of menhaden. Many observers feel that the cap is far too generous to be of any real value, but it is an attempt to begin exerting at least some control on the harvest of this forage fish that is so vital to striped bass.
Virginia's legislature has refused to act on this regulation and leadership is needed from Governor Tim Kaine to make it happen. All who love striped bass have a stake in this issue, and tourism angling is a big business for VA. So we are asking our members to write Governor Kaine today. The attached document will give you all the information you need to help.
