I am a native Virginian and I recognize the economic impact of Omega on the lower Northern Neck. But the science is clear that this fishery cannot be continued. Anecdotally, I know some watermen who pound net in the lower Potomac area. They advise that 2024 was the worst year they had experienced for menhaden. They have fished for decades. The collapse of the rockfish certainly seems directly related to the lack of forage. It cannot continue on the path it is on. And certainly allocating virtually all of the public resource to one company to the detriment of the ecosystem is no longer sensible. Omega will claim that the science does not support the reduction of their fishery. Remember well what the cigarette companies in Virginia claimed about the safety of their product for decades. It may be that the state and/or federal government will have to provide assistance to the workers and community from the impact of closing or significantly reducing the fishery. From a purely economic point of view this would be justified by a recovery of the recreational fisheries alone it appears. I recognize that Omega is a large political player and contributor, but it is time for the science and common sense to prevail over political power and the parochial interests involved here.

Thank you for your consideration.