"Escalating Battle Over Chesapeake Bay Menhaden in Virginia"
The small menhaden fish has become a focal point of a contentious debate in the Chesapeake Bay, with environmentalists and sportfishing groups advocating for a complete ban on the commercial fishery due to concerns of overfishing and its impact on the local ecosystem. On the other hand, Omega Protein, the last company harvesting menhaden in the bay, argues that there is no evidence supporting these concerns and that a ban would threaten local jobs. The debate has intensified in recent years, with clashes between the commercial fishing industry and recreational fishermen, and a proposed study on the status of menhaden in the bay has been delayed.