Virginia House and Senate lawmakers finalized the state’s $205 billion 2026-28 biennial budget in June without approving funds for research of the state’s Chesapeake Bay menhaden population.
Omega Protein and its fishing partner Ocean Harvesters of Reedville, Va., have been accused by Chesapeake Bay Foundation officials of “continued political pressure” on legislators, resulting in denial of the funding.
There were three bills introduced in the 2026 Virginia legislative session associated with the funding and encouraging more overall menhaden research and oversight of the fish and industry. All three bills were killed in committee.
A bill (SB)-474 was introduced by state Sen. David Marsden, D-Fairfax, which would have established the Atlantic Menhaden Research Fund to direct the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) to conduct dedicated population studies of the fish to establish ecologically meaningful harvest limits.
Another bill (HB)-1048 was introduced by Del. Betsy Carr, D-Richmond, who sought to halt industrial menhaden purse-seine fishing in the Chesapeake Bay until “research” could certify that the fishery does not negatively impact other species. The bill stated “determination that the fishery does not create a negative impact shall be made by the state Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources and certified in writing by the Virginia Code Commission”
In addition, (HB)-1049 was also introduced by Delegate Carr that encouraged Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC) to develop and maintain a quota management system for bay caps on seasonal quota periods. The bill also called for VMRC to mandate and fund independent observers on 10 percent of Ocean Harvesters’ fishing trips.
On Tuesday morning June 23, National Fisherman contacted both firms for comment on accusations that Omega Protein and Ocean Harvesters pressured the Virginia’s General Assembly to delay funding for research. The firms issued this news release from Reedville later that day.
Ocean Harvesters’ and Omega Protein’s response
“Ocean Harvesters and Omega Protein flatly deny playing any role in the Virginia General Assembly’s decision not to include funding to study the Chesapeake Bay’s Atlantic menhaden population in the two-year state budget. These false claims were made by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF), an organization that has misled Virginians as part of a special interest campaign against the industry for more than two decades.
“The proposed research initiative would have provided $1 million per year for two years to VIMS to establish an Atlantic menhaden research fund and develop a report to help inform a scientifically justifiable Chesapeake Bay harvest cap. The proposed work was excepted to be led by VIMS in collaboration with VMRC, with input from relevant stakeholders, including recreational anglers, the reduction and bait fishery sectors, and non-governmental organizations.
“The funding would have built on industry-supported work already underway through the Science Center for Marine Fisheries (SCEMFIS) which has funded a roadmap project to identify the research needed to support a science-based bay harvest cap. SCEMFIS is a member of the National Science Foundation’s Industry-University Cooperative Research Centers program, which brings together scientists, government researchers, and partners in the fishing industry to support collaborative, peer-reviewed fisheries research.
“SCEMFIS’ menhaden roadmap is being developed by leading menhaden scientist from institutions including VIMS, the Chesapeake Laboratory at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrator (NOAA). That work is focused on identifying the data, methods, timelines, and costs needed to answer Bay-specific questions about seasonal abundance, movement between the bay and the Atlantic coast, predators demand from species such as striped bass and osprey, commercial fishing patterns, and whether localized depletion is occurring in the bay and the feasibility of tagging or other survey approaches.
“CBF is using the budget issue to once again spread false claims about the menhaden fishery. CBF’s latest press statement attempts to portray the absence of budget funding as an industry victory, which is purposely misleading and oversimplifies the complex budget process.
“CBF’s statement written by David Sherfinski falsely claims that Virginia lawmakers excluded menhaden research funding from the budget because they were ‘bowing to pressure from industry to delay this vital research,’ while Will Poston, CBF’s forage campaign manager, falsely stated, ‘The menhaden industry has not once offered public support for funding state menhaden research.’ Ocean Harvesters and Omega Protein support more science, not less, directly supporting the SCEMFIS roadmap study and supporting funding menhaden research.
“Mr. Poston further claimed that ‘continued political pressure’ from ‘Omega Protein and their McGuireWoods lobbyists’ was exerted ‘to delay science.’ That statement is false, defamatory, and should be withdrawn immediately.
“The need for better data is especially important because current Chesapeake Bay menhaden management is built around a harvest cap that was established as a precautionary political compromise, not as a Bay-specific biological reference point. Future change to the bay cap should be informed not by politics, but by credible science and clear understanding of ecological, economic, and workforce impacts.
“CBF’s ironic ‘no science, no industrial fishing’ slogan ignores the fact that the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) has repeatedly found that menhaden is not overfished and overfishing is not occurring. Since 2020, the fishery has been managed using ecological reference points designed specifically to account for menhaden’s role as forage for predators. The fishery is independently certified as sustainable by the Marine Stewardship Council.
“The latest available data do not support CBF’s claim that the Chesapeake Bay is being ‘emptied’ of menhaden. The most recent ASMFC assessment indicates coastwise adult menhaden biomasses remain roughly twice the levels seen 50 years ago. Maryland’s young-of-the-year surveys show strong recent juvenile abundance, with Atlantic menhaden widespread in the bay for three consecutive years. The 2025 index reported as the third-highest since 1991.
“Fisheries policy affects real communities. Any future changes to coastwise or Chesapeake Bay catch limits should consider not only ecological questions, but also potential effects on workers, businesses, bait supply, infrastructure, and coastal communities that depend on the menhaden fishery.
“Ocean Harvesters and Omega Protein remain committed to sound science, responsible fishing, and meaningful stakeholder engagement. The companies continue to support a serious research agenda for Atlantic menhaden in the Chesapeake Bay and urge state officials, scientists, fisheries managers, and stakeholders to pursue a measured, fact-based approach rather than one driven by political pressure and unsupported claims.”
Federal funding
Earlier this year, President Donald Trump signed a three-bill spending package that will fund multiple departments with $2.5 million going to NOAA earmarked for menhaden research.
