by Megan Schiffres
RICHMOND—Two bills that would transfer the regulatory authority over menhaden fisheries in the Commonwealth from the legislature to the Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC) have advanced in both chambers of the General Assembly.
House Bill 1448, introduced by Del. Kenneth Plum of Reston, was reported to the House of Delegates floor while Senate Bill 791, introduced by Sen. Lynwood Lewis of Accomac, was reported to the Senate agriculture, conservation and natural resources committee.
These identical bills subject the decisions of the VMRC to judicial review and establish a menhaden management advisory committee to provide guidance to the commission on the sustainable management of the fishery. This committee would be composed of 12 non-legislative members including one…[to-view-more]