On February 7th, 2024, an exclusive screening of "Menhaden the Biggest Little Fish You've Never Seen" was presented by filmmaker WS McKeever on a Zoom webinar. Attendees were invited through the Facebook Group, "Menhaden - Little Fish, Big Deal!" After the informative 30-minute screening, attendees were treated to a Q&A session with WS McKeever and Debbie Campbell, local citizen activists working to save the Chesapeake Bay from the loss of this critical fish. To be part of future events, join us on Facebook here. 

December 5, 2023, 9am ET

Hampton, VA

Last Chance for Tight Regulation in 2024

VMRC (regulatory body for the fishery) December meeting. This one is particularly important as it’s the last meeting of the year at which tighter regulation of the reduction fishing activities in the Chesapeake could be achieved. Strength in numbers! Arrive early since last year those responsible for the carnage in our precious bay sent 2 busses full of employees to the hearing. It was standing room only. 

November 29, 2023 - 6pm - 8:30 pm ET - Northampton County Courthouse Historic District

The 30-minute documentary film that’s creating all the buzz chronicles the history of menhaden in the Chesapeake and the environmental impacts of menhaden factory reduction fishing upon the Bay. Film screening followed by Q&A with a panel of experts. (Don’t be scared off by the 6-8:30…the county graciously gave us plenty of time to allow for Q&A after the screening). Space is limited. Please be sure to register here. The screening will be in the room where the Northampton County Board of Supervisors holds their meetings - 2nd floor of the old courthouse building (not the court building in the rear of the complex). 

CLA Files Motion for Summary Judgment in Menhaden Case

On Tuesday, November 22nd, CLA filed a Motion for Summary Judgment in Richmond City Circuit Court on behalf of the Southern Maryland Recreational Fishing Organization (SMRFO). This motion was filed on the heels of Judge Campbell’s recent holding that there was merit to CLA’s claim that VMRC ignored the statutorily required conservation and management standards. 

On Thursday, September 7th, CLA’s Executive Director David Reed traveled to Richmond, Virginia, to argue before the Honorable Richard Campbell against the Virginia Marine Resources Commission’s (VMRC) motion to dismiss CLA’s challenge of the agency’s March 2023 decision to continue overharvesting of the menhaden fishery via reduction fishing. 

CLA’s challenge is based primarily on two Virginia laws. The first mandates that the agency must protect the Menhaden fishery using the required fishery conservation and management standards, including prevention of overfishing; consideration of the best available science, economic data, and biological data; equitable allocation to users; and rulemaking that is not for the sole purpose of economic allocation. The second law requires that the agency may only adopt regulations for the management of menhaden during the rulemaking period (between October 1 and December 31) unless regulatory action is necessary to address an emergency pursuant to Virginia law or to ensure compliance with the Interstate Commission’s (Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission) coastwide regulatory plan.

CLA Comes Out On Top In Motion to Dismiss Menhaden Case

On Thursday, September 7th, CLA’s Executive Director David Reed traveled to Richmond, Virginia to argue the case before the Honorable Richard Campbell against the Virginia Marine Resources Commission’s (VMRC) motion to dismiss CLA’s challenge of the agency’s March 2023 decision to continue overharvesting of the menhaden fishery via reduction fishing.

On Dec 12th, 2023, Chesapeake Legal Alliance and their client, Southern Maryland Recreational Fishing Organization, along with co-petitioners from across the Bay region, filed a petition for rulemaking, asking the VMRC to employ specific conservation and management measures that protect the fishery, the Bay, and the public’s interest.

12/12/23: Full document – https://www.chesapeakelegal.org/cla-files-petition-for-rulemaking-in-menhaden-case/