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Menhaden are forage fish species and filter feeders, each capable of filtering up to seven gallons of water per minute. (Photo of female Osprey with Menhaden/TRCP)

Wednesday, September 18, 2024

Menhaden decline threatens Virginia's ecosystem, fisheries

In Virginia's waters, the decline of a small but critically important fish is causing growing concern among conservation groups and fishermen alike…

The Interior Department says it will hold more lease sales in the Central Atlantic in 2026. (Twixter/Adobe Stock)

Offshore wind industry gains momentum in VA

Virginia's Dominion Energy has won a lease to continue growing its offshore wind portfolio near Virginia's coast. The move is expected to grow the …

A new report from the Virginia Marine Resources Commission showed Chesapeake Bay's adult female blue crab population is around 133 million. While it is above the 72.5 million threshold to pause the harvest, it is well below the target of 196 million. (Adobe Stock)

VRMC votes to reopen winter blue crab harvest season

Virginia's Marine Resources Commission is ending the winter blue crab harvest prohibition. Crabbing is permitted from March to the middle of …

Virginia lawmakers approved a bill to design a study methodology for menhaden research. It estimates the study will take several years and cost $2.6 million. (Adobe Stock)

VA General Assembly nixes menhaden study bill

Virginia's General Assembly has killed legislation to address the declining menhaden population. The tiny forage fish are an important part of the …

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation's biennial State of the Bay report gave the bay's overall health a D+, the same grade it received in 2020. (Adobe Stock)

Farm Bill funding impacts Chesapeake Bay conservation efforts

Virginia environmentalists are seeking Farm Bill funding to help Chesapeake Bay conservation efforts. The proposed Chesapeake Bay Conservation …

Along with flooding, Virginia is experiencing sea level rise. Between 1950 and 2023, the state has seen a 14-inch rise in sea level rise, putting 45,000 homes at risk of tidal flooding. (Adobe Stock)

Wetlands forming on VA surface mines, impacts uncertain

A recent report found wetlands forming on surface mines in Virginia can benefit the state. The wetlands form because surface mining flattens land…

In the three decades between 1980 and 2010, Virginia's York River lost more than 20% of marsh area. By 2050, the region is projected to lose 40,000 acres to sea-level rise. (Adobe Stock)

New plan outlines ways to conserve VA’s coastal wetlands

A new plan takes an interconnected approach to saving Virginia's coastal wetlands. The aim of Virginia's York River and Small Coastal Basin …

A pilot program is being developed for Virginia's Security Corridor with the American Forest Program to grow the Family Forest Carbon Program in the region. It would help provide capacity to private landowners to improve carbon sequestration of their forests. (Adobe Stock)

VA Joins Sentinel Landscape Partnership Program

Virginia is the 12th state to join the nationwide Sentinel Landscape Partnership, which has goals of strengthening military readiness while advancing …

The Chesapeake Legal Alliance sued in May to challenge the Virginia Marine Resources Commission's standards on menhaden harvesting. The proposed regulations would have pushed these operations away from the shores of Chesapeake Bay in the hopes of preventing net spills. (Adobe Stock)

Industrial Menhaden Operations Harm VA Ecosystems

Virginia fishermen want action to be taken to keep industrial menhaden operations in the state in check. Menhaden are a nutrient-rich fish and a key …

NOAA seeks to make it easier for groups and agencies to work towards restoring habitats. (Adobe Stock)

NOAA Brings Focus to Middle Peninsula

Virginia has some of the fastest-eroding coastline in the U.S, so an effort at one federal agency is bringing new focus to the region. Inside the …

Virginia's new Coastal Adaptation and Resilience Master Plan is expected to use nature-based solutions, like wetlands restoration, to help absorb the impact of severe storms and flooding. (Adobe Stock)

Virginia Welcomes Public Input on Coastal Flooding Plan

RICHMOND, Va. -- As floods grow worse from sea-level rise and more frequent storms along Virginia's Atlantic coast, the state is encouraging …

It's estimated that sea levels could rise another 18 inches by mid-century in Virginia. (Sarah/Adobe Stock)

Infrastructure Package Must Include Coastal Restoration, Groups Say

RICHMOND, Va. -- Conservation groups are asking Congress to include $10 billion for coastal restoration projects in its infrastructure package…

New College Institute in Martinsville, Va., just started offering wind-turbine safety certification training to meet the need for clean-energy job openings. (Adobe stock)

A Year After Clean Economy Act, VA Sees Renewable Jobs Expand

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. -- One year after Virginia adopted its Clean Economy Act, workforce development and new jobs in clean energy are booming in the …

Dominion Energy plans a wind farm off of Virginia's east coast that experts say would provide 10,000 jobs during six years of construction. (Adobe stock)

Biden’s Climate Plans Could Bolster Virginia Clean-Energy Jobs

RICHMOND, Va. -- With President Joe Biden's virtual climate summit over, Virginia environmentalists say the president's clean-energy actions and …

More flooding is just one of the effects of severe weather events seen in Virginia in the last 20 years. (Wikimedia Commons)

Congress Urged to Address Climate Change in Next Stimulus Bill

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. -- With Americans anticipating a new COVID-related stimulus bill from Congress, environmental groups say the time is right to …

Tons of crushed concrete will be deposited in the Lynnhaven River near Virginia Beach to restore oyster reefs. (Wikimedia Commons)

VA Restoration Project Creates Oyster Reefs from Tons of Concrete

Correction: 08/03/2020 12:38 p.m. CST - Army Corps of Engineers received $10 million in federal funding, not Lynnhaven River NOW. VIRGINIA BEACH, Va…

A new House bill could provide funding to help restore the Chesapeake Bay's extreme seagrass loss over the past year. (Chesapeake Bay Program)<br /><br /><br />

New Coastal Stimulus Bill Could Bolster Resiliency, COVID Job Losses

RICHMOND, Va. - As coastal areas experience severe job loss from COVID-19 shutdowns, new legislation in Congress promises funding to restore those …

A bill passed this weeks by Congress would help support coastal restoration projects on the Chesapeake Bay. (Adobe Stock)

Moving Forward Act Would Boost VA Chesapeake Bay Cleanup

RICHMOND, Va. - This week, the House of Representatives passed the Moving Forward Act, which includes $3 billion for coastal restoration projects…

The crab industry in Virginia has been hit hard by restaurant shutdowns during the pandemic. (Adobe Stock)<br /><br />

VA Officials: Federal Relief for Seafood Industry 'Woefully Short'

RICHMOND, Va. - With fisheries on the verge of collapse during the pandemic shutdowns, Virginia officials are criticizing federal relief for its …

Living shorelines such as this oyster reef barrier in North Carolina protect against erosion while providing habitats for wildlife. (U.S. Marine Corps)

Report: States Need to Streamline Licensing for Living Shorelines

RICHMOND, Va. -- As rising sea levels from climate change threaten waterfront communities and wildlife, a new report from the National Wildlife …

Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission regulates 27 nearshore species including menhaden, for Atlantic coastal states. (Icewall42/Pixabay)

Environmental Group Speaks Out Against Possible Omega Protein Certification

RICHMOND, Va. – Omega Protein Inc. is in the process of acquiring approval to raise the number of menhaden fish it can harvest, but …

Virginia�s beaches and coastal waters support five of the seven sea turtle species found worldwide. (Pixabay)

Report Shows Effects of Climate Change on VA Summer Fun

RICHMOND, Va. - Summertime is synonymous with getting outside to have fun for many Virginians, but a new report sheds light on how climate …

Environmental Advocates Hold Block Party to Raise Flooding Awareness

RICHMOND, Va. – After trying to talk to state leaders about climate change and the impact harmful emissions have on water levels, Virginia …

Due to potential microbiological pollution hazards, shellfish taken from areas affected by an emergency harvest closure along the Back River are unacceptable for consumption. (Pixabay)

Sewage Spill Prompts Ban on Back River Shellfish Harvesting

HAMPTON, Va. – State health officials have expanded the areas banned from shellfish harvesting due to a raw sewage spill along the Back River…

Opponents say they are worried about the impact a big spill from offshore oil drilling could have on the Virginia coast. (BAPAC)

Substantial Opposition to Trump Offshore Drilling Plan

RICHMOND, Va. – Opposition to Trump administration offshore-drilling plans looks substantial along the Atlantic Coast, including Virginia…

During hurricanes, people depend on charts and predictions from the National Hurricane Center and the National Weather Service. (NOAA/NWS)

Budget Cuts for Hurricane-Tracking Agencies Cause Concerns

RICHMOND, Va. -- President Trump's proposed budget would cut nearly $1 billion from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. That could …

The massive damage Hurricane Harvey has caused in Texas can't help but prompt concern along the Virginia coast. (U.S. Army/Wikipedia)

Northeastern Cap-and-Trade System Could Fund Storm Prep for VA Coast

RICHMOND, Va. – The bad news is that coastal Virginia is at risk from a storm like Harvey. The good news is, there's a ready source of funding …

Industrial accidents like the Deepwater Horizon disaster are just one fear of opponents of offshore drilling in the Atlantic. (U.S. Coast Guard/Wikipedia)

A Few More Days for Public Comments on Offshore Drilling Plan

RICHMOND, Va. -- The public has until Thursday to comment on the first step towards a proposal that could open the Virginia coast to offshore …

Organizers say a Virginia Beach protest against offshore drilling represents the will of the people and businesses of that community. (Chris Bergand/Andrew Tuchman/Oceana)

Protest Against Offshore Drilling in Virginia Beach

RICHMOND, Va. -- More than 150 people took to the sand in Virginia Beach on Saturday to protest plans to expand offshore drilling. The Trump …

One important decision awaiting President-elect Donald Trump is what to do with popular rules intended to reduce carbon pollution and slow climate change. (Chesapeake Climate Action Network)

What's Next for Climate-Change Rules?

RICHMOND, Va. – What will the Trump Administration do with Obama air-pollution limits designed to slow climate change? The U.S. Supreme Court …

The menhaden may not look like much, but it's important enough for industry and ocean predators to make managing it complicated. (Capt. John McMurray)

Managing the Little Fish in Big Demand

RICHMOND, Va. – A boost to catch limits for an important little fish is worrying sport fishing enthusiasts and conservationists. They say the …

The shad, an iconic fish in Virginia, has been denied saltwater protections. (Shermon Foote Denton)

River Herring and Shad Denied Protections at Sea

RICHMOND, Va. -- Fishery regulators have refused to put ocean catch limits on shad and river herring, drawing criticism from recreational fishermen …

The new �Changing Tides� report details the threats of climate change to Chesapeake Bay species like the Bay Scallop, and to the people who depend on them. (NWF/Seascout)

Report: Climate Change Threatens Wildlife, People of Chesapeake

RICHMOND, Va. – Climate change is already hitting wildlife and communities on the East Coast, according to a new report. Conservationists say …

According to a new report, Atlantic and Gulf Coast military bases, particularly those in Newport News, are threatened by sea-level rise from climate change. (Union of Concerned Scientists)

Sea Rise Threat to Norfolk, Atlantic and Gulf Military Bases

RICHMOND, Va. – Climate change represents a serious problem for U.S. coastal military bases – especially in and around Norfolk, according …

Protections have been put in place to protect forage fish, like the bobtail squid, in Mid-Atlantic waters off the U.S. coast. (NOAA Okeanos Explorer Program)

Protecting the Atlantic's "Lifeblood"

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - Forage fish are considered the lifeblood of the ocean's food web, yet in the Atlantic Ocean off America's Eastern Seaboard they …

A federal court fight is drawing briefs from a wide variety of groups supporting the EPA's Clean Power Plan. (Photo Montage by Evan Hansen)

Broad U.S., VA Support in Court for Climate Action

RICHMOND, Va. – A broad coalition is asking a federal court not to block the Environmental Protection Agency’s climate pollution rules…

Oysters are only at 1 percent of historic levels in the Chesapeake Bay. (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)

Disease-Resistant Oyster Could Aid Chesapeake Bay

RICHMOND, Va. - Marine police are cracking down on illegal oyster harvesting in Chesapeake Bay, but catching someone in action isn't easy. It's …

Coastal flooding is one of the issues moving a coalition of 50 separate Virginia groups to press for climate action. (NOAA)

Broad VA Coalition Pushing Climate Action

RICHMOND, Va. - A broad coalition is pushing Gov. Terry McAuliffe to speed the state's transition away from fossil fuels and interestingly, it's not …

Virginia conservationists say Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine may have cast the deciding votes in a favor of protecting U.S. wetlands. (Wetlands Watch)

Conservationists Thank Kaine, Warner For Wetlands Votes

RICHMOND, Va. - Virginia conservationists are thanking Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner for crucial votes to protect wetlands. Real estate …

Oyster reefs in the Chesapeake Bay may be threatened by climate change. Credit: Krystle Chick/Chesapeake Bay Foundation

Is Climate Change a Threat to Oyster Dressing?

RICHMOND, Va. - Climate change may be a threat to one holiday favorite – oyster dressing. According to a new report by the National Wildlife …

The U.S. Navy is rethinking its exercises that could harm marine mammals. Credit: Daniel Du Toit/ Wikimedia Commons

Navy Shifts Training to Protect Whales, Dolphins

RICHMOND, Va. - The U.S. Navy is analyzing the harm its sonar exercises do to whales, dolphins and sea turtles and may modify its training exercises …

Because of coastal flooding, a Virginian is pressing Washington for action on climate change. Photo by NOAA.

The Rising Tide: Coastal Virginian Lobbies Congress On Climate Change

RICHMOND, Va. - Folks from around the country are making the case to Congress for limits on carbon pollution to curb climate change and its impacts…

PHOTO: A federal court has cleared the way for what conservationists say needs to happen to clean up Chesapeake Bay - including reducing polluted farm runoff. Photo courtesy Chesapeake Bay Foundation.

Virginia Could Do More for Chesapeake Bay Cleanup

HANOVER, Va. – A federal court victory has cleared the way for what conservationists say needs to happen on farms within the Chesapeake Bay …

PHOTO: Virginia's beach tourism industry groups are opposing plans to open up the Atlantic coast to offshore drilling. Photo by Krystle Chick and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.

VA Beach Tourism Industry Unifying Against Offshore Drilling

RICHMOND, Va. - Virginia's beach tourism industry is unifying against offshore drilling in the Atlantic. The state's beach resort, restaurant…

PHOTO: More than 75 marine scientists and environmental organizations are pressuring the Obama administration not to allow oil and gas companies to survey the Atlantic coast for places to drill, saying it could endanger sea life and threaten Virginia's coastline. Photo credit: Bryan Burke/Flickr

Calls for Oil, Gas Testing in Atlantic Draw Fire

RICHMOND, Va. - More than 75 marine scientists and environmental organizations are pressuring the Obama administration not to allow oil and gas …

PHOTO: Many want Gov. Terry McAuliffe's Climate and Resiliency Commission to plan for sea-level rise on the Virginia Coast, in part because of storms such as Hurricane Sandy. Photo courtesy of NASA.

Planning for Climate Change on the Virginia Coast

RICHMOND, Va. - Governor Terry McAuliffe's office wants to plan for climate change. Many want his Climate and Resiliency Commission to look at sea-…

PHOTO: Superstorm Sandy was the most expensive hurricane in history, but a new report says we're not doing what we should to prepare for the rising impact of extreme coastal storms connected to climate change. Photo by Wikimedia.

A Smart "Ounce Of Prevention” For Rising Coastal Storms

RICHMOND, Va. – Natural barriers and smarter coastal and floodplain construction can be the ounce of prevention for the rising storms caused by …

IMAGE: A Dominion Resources offshore wind project is fairly far along, and offers huge potential, according to a new report on offshore wind power in the Atlantic. Map courtesy Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.

Virginia Offshore Wind Power: Not Just Tilting at Windmills

RICHMOND, Va. - A huge wind project in the early stages off Virginia Beach has the potential to provide a lot of reasonably-priced, steady power…

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