For years, I’ve fished the Chesapeake bay. I’ve watched the decline of menhaden on the bay over a span of 30 years. The days of seeing large schools of menhaden on the bay, birds feeding on top and fishing feeding below them are all but gone.  Everywhere you ask, the number one answer for the decline of menhaden is purse seine nets being used. I’ve the commercial boats in areas like Reedville come back to the docks with mounds of menhaden with other fish (Stripers, Bluefish, Red Drum…etc) mixed in together.  A simple “oops” those are by-catch fish doesn’t suffice. The reduction or removal of these nets will make a huge impact on the menhaden population as well as the Striped Bass population.This is a direct link to the reduction of Striped Bass in the Chesapeake Bay. If there is less food for Striped Bass to eat, they go to other areas. Some many other species of aquatic life depends on Menhaden including the beloved Chesapeake bay blue crabs.

If the continued use of these nets are allowed, the results will be catastrophic for the Chesapeake bay. 

Thank you

Jonathan