I live on the Eastern Shore. The Eastern Shore relies on recreational fishing and ecotourism for economic support. The menhaden reduction fishery is negatively impacting recreational fishing and ecotourism because it is severely degrading the food web in the Chesapeake Bay. There is no science to support the sustainability of the menhaden fishery in the Chesapeake Bay and there is no other state in the Atlantic seaboard that allows this fishery in their state waters. The only reason that Omega is afraid of a scientific study is that it will show that their fishery is not sustainable in the long run and is significantly harming the ecosystem of the Chesapeake Bay. Osprey reproduction in the saline part of the Bay is in a catastrophic decline due to lack of food, primarily menhaden, and there are no substitute fisheries to support osprey and other fish-eating predators. VMRC's management of this public trust resource has been irresponsible and lacking in scientific justification.....please get on the right track, the right side of history, and grant the petition.