Virginia Waterman's Association: Recent Comments

Comment on TO: SENATORS WEBB and WARNER: SUPPORT A FISHERY RESOURCE DISASTER!

Donna — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 19:49:44 GMT

Everyone is focused on the crabs in the bay but what about the oystering that keeps getting shut down because of "polution"? When isn't the water polluted? The winter crab drudgers got the ghost pot thing so what do the oystering waterman get? Nothing but a hard time. You take your boat to one place to work it then they close that so that's wasted fuel then again to try to go somewhere else to try to make a little money to live on and there's not much there or the next one is shut down. Why can't they come up with something for the waterman that are drowning in bills and can't find a way out because of things getting shut down. Why doesn't VMRC open up some of the closed grounds to make up for the months of areas closed? I don't think it's too much to ask. It's not like we're asking for $300 a day plus fuel and special equipment like others get.

Comment on Virginia Watermen Association Go to Richmond

Jennings C Burton Jr — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 20:40:41 GMT

One of the hardest things to do is get people to work together--
I am very pleased to see articles and events such as these--the watermen need more exposure and need more people going to Richmond when the general assembly is in sesson and inviting their representatives to come spend time with them both working and in their communities!! Thank You!!

Comment on Senator Stuart a Real Bay Advocate - We need more like him

puppybreath — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 21:37:55 GMT

O.K.

You want to save the bay.

The first thing you need to do is to take on honest all inclusive look at all of the different things we as a population do that is harmful to the bay.

Overfishing is not the problem at present, it was the problem that started the bay into decline however, remember how steam dredges were used to break up the oyster reefs to supply the North Eastern Big city markets.

I believe that the newest and potentially deadliest problem for the bay is the increase in population density along the waters feeding into the bay.

This new population insists on having the greenest neatest lawns, pet horseys, large houses and unlimited access to the water as a sort of play ground.

You have herbicides, pestacides, untreated fecal matter of animal origin, human waste, chemical fertilizers, silt run-off and just plain trash all going straight into the bay from the ditches of these newly developed households.

I have personally watched an individual in my neighborhood (Mobjack Bay Area Glo.) quite deliberatley allowing his horses manure to run into a ditch leading directly into the bay. This is the same ditch he sprayed full of "Round-Up" to keep the weeds down.

I don't think it takes much imagination to see where all of this can go. There are areas nearby that cannot be harvested by law due to the large amount of coliform fecal bacteria in the water.
The local Government inspected and cited septic systems to try to reduce the amount of untreated sewage to safe levels, it has not helped much. I suppose they don't believe that sewage can come out of horses butts as well.

You need to control what is wantonly dumped into the bay.

Start to educate home owners on the dangers of the chemicals they use outside their houses. regulate them if needed.

Remove the barrier against the counties ability to tax and inspect how large pet animals are kept. Emphasis should be on how to SAFELY dispose of animal waste products. Presently the horse owners of Glo. Co. are not taxed or checked because they say their animals are PETS.
Farmers are already subject regulation and control for the very same sorts of large animals.

Reduce or more tightly regulate the building codes for properties along the waters leading into the bay. Fewer houses means fewer septic tanks and barnyards leaking into the bay.

Put oil extraction systems in for the run off from the cities streets and keep a closer watch on the sewage treatment facilities near the water.

I believe that if such things as I have discussed are considered the health of the bay can be improved and more waters presently closed to harvesting can be reopened to watermen.

Comment on Senator Stuart a Real Bay Advocate - We need more like him

Bill Kirby — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 18:23:46 GMT

I am interested in helping with the task force. How can I?

Comment on Supplying 'the pump' of groundwater

Bill Kirby — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 16:37:04 GMT

This should be a front page article in every newspaper in VA, NC, MD, DE, PA NJ and NY

Comment on Call To Action - Campaign Needs Immediate ACTION

Ken — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 21:47:01 GMT

Below is a copy of the letter I wrote.

It has come to my attention that DEQ has proposed authorizing pollution discharges into the Shenandoah-Potomac in excess of the “pollution caps” already determined by the Environmental Protection Agency to be protective of water quality in the Bay downstream.

I am specially speaking of the proposal that would allow Merck Pharmaceuticals and the Frederick-Winchester Service Authority to increase their pollution limits for nitrogen and phosphorus. These are the 2 main pollutants that are contributing to the degradation of the Chesapeake Bay.

Virginia’s commercial watermen have been saying for decades that the water quality of the Chesapeake Bay has been ruining the once vibrant seafood industry. By the Commonwealth’s own assessment over 10,600 miles of rivers and nearly the entire Chesapeake Bay DO NOT meet state water quality requirements.

In 2007, 88% of the Bay and its tidal tributaries did not meet water quality standards. 40% of the Bay was considered a dead zone. Many marine animals can swim out of a dead zone but larvae and the microscopic life that are so important to a rich and productive Bay are at the mercy of the tide and currents.

There are 2,980 commercial watermen in the Commonwealth of Virginia, down from 3,858 in 1993. These watermen depend on the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries as their source of income. Not only does an unhealthy Bay affect these 2,980 watermen, but it also affects those people who process the catch and deliver the processed product. The effect is dramatic as it goes through the distribution chain.

Despite this reduction of watermen and record low catches, the Virginia Marine Resources Commission placed stricter regulations on the commercial watermen this year to achieve a 34% reduction in the female crab catch. The watermen are expected to abide by these new regulations.

I am sure the Secretary of Natural Resources expects VMRC to enforce these new regulations, just as I am sure he expects DEQ to live by the “pollution caps” and not authorize additional pollution to be addressed later in a future Bay cleanup plan.

Enclosed you will find a letter from Secretary Bryant where he tells me that he has every reason to believe that long established goals and pollution REDUCTION goals will be met.

Comment on Virginia's Best Crabber

Ken — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 11:23:25 GMT

Harry,
You are welcome.
We think everybody should see the day come alive and be in touch with what the Lord did to create such a magnificent place.
I am sorry to disagree with you about the crabs and fish ruining the beauty of the Bay.
What we really wish is that all of the people up stream of us would contain their point and non-point pollution so there would be more of them.
After all we do have a heritage that goes back to colonial times and would like to see our children continue in this way of life.
But if you are serious about killing the crabs and fish because you think they take away from the beauty of the Bay then by all means tell your friends to continue not to use the pump out stations and keep on dumping their waste overboard.
You might also remind them that the more fertilizer they put on their yards will end up in the Bay. This really will help with the demise of all marine life. Last year only 40% of the Bay was a dead zone and I'm sure with a little more effort this can be increased.
I do appreciate your opinions though.

Comment on Virginia's Best Crabber

Harry Merkin — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 03:25:02 GMT

I support the Virginia Watermen! I've become acquainted with quite a few watermen over the years. They are always concerned that I do not oversleep at my anchorage. They come in very close to my sailboat at cruising speed so that their wakes roll me out of the berth. Thank you, watermen for your alturistic concern for my well being. Its nice to know that you're out there, keeping the population of crabs and fish from ruining the beautiful Chesapeake.

Comment on TO: SENATORS WEBB and WARNER: SUPPORT A FISHERY RESOURCE DISASTER!

ana — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 03:23:50 GMT

Today I recieved an email from Senator Webb in response to the letter I wrote directing me to a May 29 "press release" on his website.
If anyone is interested in reading it the link is
http://webb.senate.gov/newsroom/record.cfm?id=298542.

Comment on Virginia's Best Crabber

Ken — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 10:10:38 GMT

The catfish is a problem and at the present time there is no market for them.

One of the worse things about them is that they are always spawning. It makes
no difference what time of year that you cut one open you will find row.

This link will tell you more
http://virginiawaterman.org/files/4/8/3/2/1/120414-112384/Pages_from_blue_catfish.pdf
Blue Catfish is a Bad Actor