Menhaden are a publicly owned fisheries resource of the Commonwealth public that is being exploited to the extreme detriment of the resource by an intensive reduction fishery owned by Omega Protein, a Canadian firm. The population, while within the confines of the Chesapeake Bay, is particularly vulnerable to over exploitation through the use of spotter planes that target dense schools fo menhaden concentrated within the geographic constraints of surrounding land masses. This population is in dire need of protection from overexploitation because of its extreme ecological importance as plankton feeders and a food resource for a multitude of species within the Bay from whales to predatory recreational and commercial important fisheries species. I urge this committee vote to curb the intensive reduction of this important species within the Chesapeake Bay! Please vote YES on HB 1049! Thank you for the opportunity to comment on this critical issue.

HB 1048 & HB 1049 The Menhaden Needs to be protected NOW from overfishing. This species has already been overfished. The Menhaden are a Keystone species and vital to the health of the Chesapeake Bay. Limits on their harvest need to be put in place an enforced. The osprey population is suffering as are other species that depend on a healthy Menhaden population. HB 1091 Solar Energy is the most cost effective clean source of energy we can install right now. I totally understand residents not wanting industrial solar arrays installed too close to where they live, but with that said it is better to install these solar panels on agricultural land that is not being used rather than deforest more land in order to install these solar arrays. HB 129 Why should you be able to kill deer out of season on your property if they are damaging your fruit trees, crops, or personal property..? The land owner should be made to better secure their fruit trees, crops, and personal property rather than be allowed to kill deer because they are unwilling to invest the time to better secure their property from deer. HB1396 Hunting with dogs and allowing them to run over others personal property Needs to be prohibited! Why the leash laws do not pertain to hunters using dogs makes Zero sense. This has Nothing to do with tradition, and that is not an argument that should be used in support of hunting with dogs. If Sportsman hunting with dogs want to continue using dogs to hunt, they should be made to fence in the property before releasing their dogs. HB45 All fees associated with hunting, fishing, and trapping in the commonwealth should be collected. For what reason should people be allowed to do these activities for free, partially discounted, or get reimbursed. The wildlife they are hunting, fishing, and trapping belong to all the residents of Virginia. Therefore they should pay the associated fees when engaging in an activity that removes them from the wild spaces all residents have a right to enjoy.

Please stop hound hunters right to retrieve on private property. We have multiple where incidents every year where hunting dogs attack our pets on our private property causing harm, loss of life, and vet bills. Private property should remain private year around.

Menhaden are a prime food source for many fish within the Chesapeake Bay including but not limited to striped bass, bluefish and other marine life. The commercial overfishing in Virginia and Maryland has had a noticeable impact on stripd bass and other fish populations. The catch numbers have reduced leading to stricter limits on these fish, without any restriction on the men Haden that these fish eat to survive. Maryland implemented stricter harvest/commercial fishing regulations. Virginia did not and those commercial vessels are indeed taking advantage of Virginia's lack of response to their over fishing. There needs to be more inspections of boats while fishing from USCG, Virginia Marine Police and Virginia Dept. of Wildlife Resources. The dangerous unregulated, unchecked and unimpeded commercial harvesting of these menhaden that are a food source for other fish including sport fish is an ecological disaster waiting to happen. When those menhaden are depleted the ecosystem will have longterm damage that will cost billions to restore and we will lose more species than the manhaden and stripers.

Please support HB 1049 - Menhaden Reduction Fisheries: quota periods, observers. This legislation would direct VA Marine Resources Commission to set up a quota period management plan to allow menhaden-dependent larger fish and other marine life, to include the osprey birds to have year-round access to vital nutrients derived from the menhaden. The legislation also sets up observers on 10% of the menhaden fishing trips which would provide independent data on catch composition and weight. Yours truly, Tyla Matteson, Chair, York River Group Sierra Club