VA Petition: Gear Type Use in Virginia Waters Pertaining to Depth of Current Purse Seine Nets
Hi,
My name is Patrick Rudman, owner of Old Maine Outfitters located in South Portland Maine, and I would like to share my support for the VA petition to restrict gear type based on depth when using the purse seine nets. Its great it see that VA is considering this change, as nets used at depths less than 60' do unintended harm and were not designed for such use. VA has a unique responsibility as the Chesapeake is the United States largest estuary and protecting the fisheries that reside there has implications up and down the east coast. How Virginia manages the bay has a direct impact on the fish we see up here in Maine, so I greatly appreciate and support this common sense action to reduce harm to non-targeted species.
