The number of bay anchovies has increased. Environmentalists with the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science explain the bay anchovy is an important food source for other fish, like striped bass and bluefish.
In the annual report card from the Center, the health of the bay has improved, going from a D+ rating in 2011 to a C for 2012. Among the good signs, less nitrogen is turning up in the waters of the bay, and the water clarity is improving.
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4 comments:
That is good to hear, but I am very concerned about the menhaden fishing in the Virginia waters of the bay. The boats and spotter planes have been here for about 3 weeks now. One neighbor reports being by the bridge tunnel and seeing them gaffing other species and throwing them onto one of the smaller boats, there have been at least 2 dead dolphins since the boats appeared, there was a large net kill and thousands of fish were sacrificed. Some of the local fisherman were saying that sometimes when they have the nets out and the plane spots a school of larger fish that they will dump their net (those fish die) and go on to the better catch. No one cleaned up the fish kill, nor does an estimated tonnage count toward the limit that they can take from the fishery. VA is the only bay state that allows this to go on. VA is also the only state where the rules are set by legislators rather than scientists. Any suggestions on how to get to something more reasonable would be appreciated. Although the fish are harvested in VA waters, it impacts all bay waters.
We were told that the dead fish would be cleaned up. they weren't. Reportedly because none of the boats would take responsibility. Talk about harm to water quality. It's very frustrating. I say close the fishery until someone cleans up something like this. I would also like to see an estimated tonnage count toward the limit. Really, they shouldn't be allowed to fish here. Recently, they have been right off our swimming and fishing beaches. I can't see where the checks and balances are very good.
Thank Mother Nature, she is the one who cleaned it up by using the storm Sandy and the flooding.
With all this rain that toilet should be clean.
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