Setting the record straight

My recent column on the current menhaden situation attracted the attention of a group called Saving Seafood. Saving Seafood is a 501(c)6 nonprofit that is funded by the fishing industry. 

The Menhaden Fisheries Coalition is a part of the Saving Seafood group and is funded by the menhaden fishing industry and related businesses. I used a press release from the Menhaden Fisheries Coalition as a basis for my Jan. 27 column. I also used press releases from the Maryland Saltwater Sportfishing Association and Maryland Coastal Conservation Association.

First, let me admit my big mistake. In the article, I said Virginia could go out of compliance on menhaden and then wait for Department of Interior Secretary Zinke to approve their action, as he did for New Jersey on their flounder plan.

I took this from a recreational fishing group’s press release. I knew the Interior Department had nothing to do with saltwater fishery management, except for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service which has a vote on all ASMFC management plans along with the National Marine Fisheries Service, but, because I must be getting lazy in my old age, I ran with the wrong information.

The truth is, it was Secretary of Commerce Ross who gave New Jersey the green light, and I was 90 percent sure, but I failed to confirm the fact. It took about 15 minutes of computer work to check the facts, and I am sorry to say I didn’t do my due diligence.

Another fact that the Menhaden Fisheries Coalition claimed I had wrong is to me a simple technical difference. I said the Commonwealth of Virginia had sued the federal government, when, in fact, they appealed the menhaden plan. It is my opinion that the ASMFC will reject the appeal and then Virginia will sue. 

Next, they claim I was wrong in my statement that the overall menhaden quota was increased by 8 percent. Then, they go on to say that the overall quota did increase by 8 percent, but it was not distributed evenly. In other words, the MFC didn’t like how Virginia was treated by the ASMFC. Too bad.

I also claimed that Omega Protein donated to every member of the Virginia Legislature.  Omega claims they only donated to certain legislative members and political action committees. A link provided by Saving Seafood’s rep shows Omega donates to legislators and PACs no matter their political affiliation, which was the point I was making in my first column. I have been around politics long enough to know that money donated to PACs can go to any number of politicians. I am certain it is all, but it’s impossible to prove who the money from Omega goes to. Having lived in Virginia for 11 years and working for the CCA in Richmond, I am well aware of the power Omega has over the Legislature. 

I said the MFC wanted the ASMFC to allocate 314,000 metric tons to the overall menhaden quota. The MFC claims they didn’t officially advocate for an increase to 314,000 MT. What their press release said was, “Although the best available science would have allowed an increase from 200,000 MT to 314,000 MT with only a minimal risk of overfishing, we believe the commission succumbed to political pressure in raising the quota just 8 percent to 216,000 MT.” It sounds to me like they wanted 314,000 MT.

I feel honored that MFC would go to the trouble of reading my column and then take the time and effort to send my editor reams of their propaganda.

Cabin fever

If you are fed up with this nasty weather and are dying to get out of the house and go somewhere to talk fishing and, perhaps, purchase some desperately needed tackle, try the Fish Expo at the Laurel Firehouse on Saturday. The hours are 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., and there should be new and used tackle for sale. It has been a few years since this show was held and it wasn’t that big to start with. It is, however, the only winter fishing show in Delaware, and Laurel is less than an hour from the Cape Region, and I am pretty sure the firehouse is heated, so what else do you have to do? It is too cold to fish and hunting seasons are winding down, so I hope to see you there.