by Megan Schiffres
RICHMOND—Gov. Ralph Northam will consider a bill to transfer regulatory authority over Atlantic menhaden from the Virginia legislature to the Virginia Marines Resources Commission after it passed both the House and Senate earlier this week.
Senate Bill 791, introduced by Sen. Lynwood Lewis of Accomac, also directs the commission to adopt regulations necessary to comply with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Menhaden and establishes a menhaden advisory committee to provide guidance to the Commissioner of Marine Resources. The House voted 79-21 on Monday to approve Senate Bill 791.
Also on Monday a bill introduced by Sen. Ryan McDougle of Mechanicsville, Senate Bill 515, was unanimously passed (100-0) by the House and will now advance to the governor’s desk….
