I do not support a complete moratorium on menhaden fishing. However, I strongly believe that stricter regulations and greater accountability within the Omega Protein industry are absolutely essential to preserve the health and enjoyment of the Chesapeake Bay and its watershed.

The Reedville, Virginia facility—Omega Protein’s plant—is now the only remaining reduction facility on the entire Atlantic coast. According to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, this single plant harvests nearly 70% of all Atlantic menhaden caught along the East Coast, totaling close to 300 million pounds each year. No forage fish population can endure that level of extraction and expect to recover within our lifetimes, especially given the natural mortality rates of menhaden.

Menhaden are the foundation of the marine food web. Species such as the striped bass, bluefin tuna, dolphins, humpback whales, and even the iconic bald eagle depend on this fish as a primary food source. When menhaden are overharvested, every one of these species is put at risk, and the ecological balance that defines the Chesapeake Bay begins to unravel.
Moreover, the methods Omega uses to capture menhaden leave little opportunity for natural recovery. By removing entire schools, the company effectively wipes out local populations, creating temporary ecological dead zones. This local impact is often hidden in aggregate harvest statistics but has very real, immediate consequences for regional biodiversity. Even reducing their catch by half within a given school could help restore local populations and preserve the species’ ecological role.

Beyond the ecological harm, Omega Protein’s record of compliance raises serious concerns. The company has repeatedly exceeded harvest caps—with over a 30% violation in 2019 and another incident in 2013, which resulted in only minimal financial penalties, amounting to a mere 2.5% of their 2014 annual revenue. Additionally, Omega has been cited multiple times over the past decade for pollution-related violations, including the release of contaminated bilge water and toxic ammonia. These repeated offenses indicate a troubling disregard for environmental stewardship.

To make matters worse, much of the product derived from Atlantic menhaden is exported abroad to support foreign aquaculture operations, meaning that one of our most critical forage species is being exploited to benefit markets in Canada, Switzerland, and parts of Asia—hardly a fair exchange for our local ecosystems and communities.

That said, I want to be clear: I deeply respect the hardworking citizens of Reedville and those employed by Omega Protein. Their heritage, dedication, and contributions to the region’s identity are invaluable. These are families and individuals who have given their time, labor, and love to sustain their community. Any new regulations must consider their livelihoods and strive for fairness and practical solutions.

Yet acknowledgment of their commitment does not excuse the company’s harmful practices. We owe it to both the workers and the Bay to pursue a balanced agreement—one that preserves jobs while protecting the irreplaceable natural resources that make those jobs possible.