Politics & Government

Rockfish Beats Out Menhaden For Official Saltwater Fish

Manassas Delegate Proposed Amendment to Bill That Almost Altered That Outcome.

If Republican Delegate Jackson H. Miller (R-Manassas) had his way Virginia's new official saltwater fish would be the Menhaden not the state's newly crowned Rockfish.

Miller proposed an amendment to bill SB940 that sought to designate the Rockfish as Virginia's official saltwater fish. The original bill, sponsored by Democratic Senator John C. Miller of Hampton, was first brought to legislation through a movement by fourth graders of a Hampton elementary school.

The students spent time discussing with state legislators the future of this prized and tasty gamefish. When the bill cleared the Senate it seemed like a lock to pass until Jackson Miller threw in a last second amendment to the bill wanting to name the Menhaden as Virginia's top saltwater fish, not the Rockfish.

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Miller's motives to his amendment were questioned by many especially because of the timing, but it was also supported by other delegates. In a close battle, Miller's amendment missed by one vote, 48-49 and the Virginia General Assembly voted 80-16 to name the Rockfish as Virginia's new saltwater fish.

But why were Miller's actions questioned regarding the amendment and why did he have such a strong following from fellow delegates?

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We have to delve a little deeper into the world of Virginia's Menhaden industry to uncover some possible answers.

Virginia's Menhaden fishing industry dates back to the 1700's when Native Americans first utilized the fish as a fertilizer for their crops, these practices were passed on to the Pilgrims who quickly adopted new uses for the fishes oil for use in lamps, paints, soaps and tanning.

In the late 1800's a fish processing plant was established in Reedville, Va. by early European inhabitants of Virginia's Northern Neck. The same site exists today and is known as Omega Protein, the world's top producer of Omega-3 fish oils.

Not only has Omega Protein grown into the world's top producer of Omega-3 fish oils but since 1996 the company has contributed nearly $150,000 worth of campaign funds towards the Virginia Republican Party, with close to $40,000 going towards the backing of current Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell.

Miller's support for the fish don't go unnoticed, Menhaden serve as a primary food source for the Rockfish and a great filtration system for the bay by eating plankton and many feel that Menhaden need to be regulated to ensure the future population of Virginia's Rockfish.

According to the Virginia Marine Resources Commission another primary food source for the Rockfish, the Blueback Herring is so threatened that a moratorium will be placed on the fish effective Spring of 2012.

But why would a fish once used by Native Americans as just a fertilizer become so important on a politicians agenda that it would supersede the highly sought after Rockfish? Menhaden is not usually consumed by humans, while Rockfish held a spot on the table of America's first Thanksgiving and has been a staple of Chesapeake Bay cuisine ever since.

Miller said  his bill was designed to help "sports fishing and eco-tourism” in the region. In fact, he referred to the bill as a “jobs bill.”

Miller said that local sports fisherman in the Rappahannock region have contacted him concerned about the threat of factory fishing to the menhaden species.  He said his fear is if the factory fishing in the Rappahannock River and Chesapeake Bay continues to be unregulated the result would be the “collapse of the menhaden fish species.” Miller also said “factory fishing has never been sustainable due to unregulated fishing.”

 Miller also points to the fact that  Virginia is the only state that does not regulate factory fishing of the Menhaden fish, which happens to be the only species the Virginia General Assembly regulates and studies. All other species are studied and regulated by the Virginia Marine Resources Commission. Miller said he is not anti-commercial fishing, but legislators have no data to help determine the impact factory fishing has on the two waterways.

 Therefore, if it continues to go on unregulated, Miller said, not only will the local sports fisherman be jobless, but so will the employees at Omega Protein.

Many feel that if Miller was so convinced on the Menhaden's importance and productivity that he should have introduced the bill himself instead of waiting until attempting to amend a bill by elementary students.

The Rockfish isn't Virginia's only official fish, it joins the Brook Trout, which is Virginia's official freshwater fish.


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