[va-richmond-general] Re: Horseshoe Crab Bill
- From: Mary Davis <madanthony3@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: va-richmond-general@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Wed, 8 Feb 2006 15:49:30 -0500 (GMT-05:00)
Wow. Now those are interesting facts. I'm not sure what population
recruitment means. Could you elaborate? I like your suggestion for matching
the moratoriums of other states. Perhaps Audubon Societies in the
Tidewater/Central Virginia area could work with VMRC and other organizations,
with the aid of researchers, to craft a better bill next year.
Mary Davis
PS - Thanks to Wendy as well for clarification of the proceedings and the bill
itself. I knew people witnessing the proceedings could not speak up, but was
wondering if any legislators had asked.
-----Original Message-----
>From: Mike Wilson <mdwils@xxxxxx>
>Sent: Feb 8, 2006 1:01 PM
>To: va-richmond-general@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>Subject: [va-richmond-general] Re: Horseshoe Crab Bill
>
>An important fact to know is that Red Knots do not forage on horseshoe crab
>eggs in Virginia. They are foraging on bivalves while here. So the
>horseshoe crab harvest in Virginia does not affect Red knots directly but I
>do not know how the harvest impacts other species (including other birds),
>horseshoe crabs, or the ecosystem at large. It is also important to know
>that while migratory populations of Red Knots have declined greatly in
>Delaware Bay, the peak numbers during migration in Virginia have not changed
>in 10 years. So, aside from the impact on other species that may be
>unknown, the biggest issue is that Virginia remains the loophole for
>fisherman to harvest horseshoe crabs in Delaware Bay and land them here.
>The other unknown is the spatial extent of horseshoe crab population
>dynamics. Does Virginia play a role in population recruitment of crabs in
>Delaware Bay? I don't know the answer to that question but it obviously has
>implications. Perhaps a key element is to regulate the Virginia harvest and
>landing and not impose a full moratorium on the harvest. Although I have no
>suggestion how that could be accomplished.
>
>Rather than attach a population target to the bill, as was done, a better
>strategy may have been to have the bill simply follow the moratorium of the
>states in Delaware Bay. That is, Virginia maintains a moratorium until NJ
>lifts their prohibition and so on. I do not know how those states
>moratoriums are written into law but that could be problematic as well.
>
>You are subscribed to VA-Richmond-General. To unsubscribe, send email to
>va-richmond-general-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject
>field. To adjust other settings (vacation, digest, etc.) please visit,
>//www.freelists.org/list/va-richmond-general.
>
You are subscribed to VA-Richmond-General. To unsubscribe, send email to
va-richmond-general-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject
field. To adjust other settings (vacation, digest, etc.) please visit,
//www.freelists.org/list/va-richmond-general.
Other related posts:
