Hi, 

   I have grown up in VA beach my entire life, 26yrs. I have always loved to be on the water either fishing, surfing, or just sitting by the water. My grandparents live on the eastern shore of VA and got me into fishing at a very young age. My granddad grew up on the shore hunting and fishing for sustenance, so in turn conservation of resources was important as it was his food source. He taught me from the beginning to not catch (or target) anything I didn't want to harvest to then eat.. This is an older train of thought as I now practice catch and release to better understand the fish and to simply enjoy life.

   I do see one LARGE company (omega) with many blue boats and 60ft purse seine nets being used in less than 60ft of water effectively killing everything in the net as none of the large breeding fish can escape through the bottom, I'm sure you've read or been told this already. This goes against what I was taught as kid, from someone who needed to harvest fish but only at the rate he needed it, and what I believe to be morally and legally correct.

   Please help... Mandate these nets to moved outside of the bay AT LEAST, if not gone away with all together in VA waters.

We are the last state on the east coast to ban purse seine nets for menhaden, and that makes me ashamed to be a born and raised Virginian. We can do better.

Below I have listed key points as why purse seine nets need to be banned from the bay/VA waters. 

1. These purse seine nets are not being used as they are intended.
2. Water depths less than 60' do not allow for non-targeted marine life to escape. 
3. The use of these nets in water depths less than 60' can cause damage to essential fish habitat. 
4. Depth restrictions will help avoid net spills, net tears, and waste of the resource - which is beneficial for all stakeholders. 

Below I have listed the regulations OMEGA has broken in regards to Red Drum harvests TWICE in one week in July 2022 (around the 5th). With broken nets, thousands of fish washed ashore camp silver beach and surrounding areas, rotting and decaying.. The Red Drum I saw looked to be the 35-50in+ class fish, none of which are aloud to be harvested, possessed, or ruthlessly killed by gear (OMEGA purse seine nets).

4VAC20-1400-40. Commercial Size and Possession Limits

A. It shall be unlawful for any person fishing commercially with any gear type to take, catch, or possess any red drum less than 18inches in total length or greater than 25inches in total length.

B. It shall be unlawful for any person fishing commercially with any gear type to possess more than five red drum. 

4VAC20-1400-50 PENALTY

Pursuant to 28.2-903 of the Code of Virginia, any person violating any provision of this chapter shall be guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor, and a second or subsequent violation of any provision of this chapter committed by the same person within 12 months of a prior violation is a Class 1 misdemeanor.