As a homeowner on the bay near the manhaden fishery, I have witnessed firsthand the damaging effects and poor natural resource stewardship of some commercial operators. I encourage better regulation and most importantly enforcement of that regulation so that future generations of Virginians can experience the bay as we have.
Unfortunately in the past we have been too slow to react and have not put in place sufficient safeguards for use of the bay resources as well as preventing pollution. The result is a bay that is not nearly as plentiful as it was even one generation ago. We cannot repeat history. It will be hard to predict which regulations will be impactful but that cannot stop us from acting at all. The future is in our hands now.