Petition for the use of purse seine nets responsibly in the Chesapeake Bay
With purse seine nets that are 1400’ to 1500’ in length and 50’ to 60’ in depth being placed in locations throughout Virginia’s waters that are shallow and doing the following:
1)Dragging the bottom of the seabed dragging and destroying massive amounts of seagrass (SAV) which either floats away or makes its way to the closest beach.
2) Snagging and ripping the net causing 1000’s of menhaden and/or game fish to die and float away.
3) Being on the sea floor and not allowing other game fish to be able to swim to the bottom as per the design of the net to release game fish out the bottom before it is closed or “pursed”