by Larry Chowning
The General Assembly on Monday, June 29, officially passed 14 budget amendments to the $205 billion biennial budget, including $2 million for a comprehensive study on Atlantic menhaden in the Chesapeake Bay.
The assembly on June 22 presented a proposed budget to Gov. Abigail Spanberger that did not include funds for the study. This prompted political finger pointing from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) at Omega Protein Inc. and Ocean Harvesters, firms involved in the only large reduction menhaden fishery on Atlantic Coast.
CBF accused the Fleeton firms of using “political pressure” to persuade legislators not to approve research funding in the state budget. Omega Protein and Ocean Harvesters issued a news release adamantly denying the use of ….
