Virginia State Senator Richard H. Stuart of Montross and Va. Delegate Barry Knight of Virginia Beach have filed bills for introduction in the 2012 Virginia General Assembly which could set the stage for total extinction of the Menhadden fishery in the Chesapeake. Menhadden, which form a basic foundation of the Chesapeake Bay's food chain have been increasingly subject to overfishing, and in November, 2011, the Atlantic States marine Fisheries Commission took the first steps towards establishment of science based "catch limits" to preserve the species.

The menhaden fishing industries reaction: let's move to remove all limits and make a fast buck while we can. Two bills pre-filed for introduction in the 2012 Virginia General Assembly pose a grave threat to efforts to promote Bay conservation.

HB 88
Introduced by Barry D. Knight would remove the cap by removing a provision that allows an adjustment for underages or overages in the annual harvest cap to be carried over to the next year's cap limit. Currently, if a person harvests less than the 109,020 metric ton limit on taking menhaden, he can add the difference to his cap for next year's harvest. Conversely, if he exceeds the cap in any one year, he must reduce his harvest in the succeeding year by the amount of the overage of the preceding year.

A copy of this bill is available at:http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?121+ful+HB88+pdf" rel="external" title=""> http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?121+ful+HB88+pdf

SB 18
Introduced by: Richard H. Stuart removes authorization for Virginia's membership in the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Compact. The purpose of the Compact is to promote better utilization of the marine, shell, and anadromous fisheries of the Atlantic seaboard through the development of a joint program for the promotion and protection of such fisheries and by the prevention of the physical waste of the fisheries from any cause. If any state desires to remove itself from the Compact, it must send a six months' notice in writing to the member states of its intention to withdraw from the Compact.

A copy of this bill is available at http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?121+ful+SB18+pdf

To stop these bills, Virginia legislaturive representatives need to hear from you now - early and often!

Go tohttp://legis.state.va.us/" rel="external" title=""> http://legis.state.va.us/
to find the name of your Delegate and Senator and others and write them to stop these bills.

The Virginia State Police Sex Offender Search Registry includes 60 offenders listed as residing in Accomack County:


ABRAHAM, NICHOLAS
23480 HARGIS STREET
PARKSLEY
ACCOMACK CO
VA
23421

BISHOP, CARROLL
30148 LANKFORD HIGHWAY
MELFA
ACCOMACK CO
VA
23410

BOURN, FRANK
20146 SAXIS ROAD
SAXIS
ACCOMACK CO
VA
23427

BOWEN, JOHN
19536 DEERFOOT ROAD
MELFA
ACCOMACK CO
VA
23410

BRADSHAW, REGINALD
8242 SHAD LANDING ROAD
SANFORD
ACCOMACK CO
VA
23426

BUSHONG, FREDERICK
31331 POND ROAD
TEMPERANCEVILLE
ACCOMACK CO
VA
23442

CORBIN, JAMES
26590 LOGAN ROAD
ONLEY
ACCOMACK CO
VA
23418

CRIPPEN, OLIVER
15425 MACEDONIA CIRCLE
BLOXOM
ACCOMACK CO
VA
23308

CUSTIS, WAYNE
24287 LANKFORD HIGHWAY
APT 2
TASLEY
ACCOMACK CO
VA
23441

DAVIS, RANDOLPH
8 WATSON STREET
ONANCOCK
ACCOMACK CO
VA
23417

DICKERSON, JOHN
21099 CARDINAL AERES DRIVE
PARKSLEY
ACCOMACK CO
VA
23421

DIXON, STACY
19285 DOGWOOD DRIVE
MELFA
ACCOMACK CO
VA
23410

DOWNS, WILLIAM
25304 WOODLAND PARK
ACCOMAC
ACCOMACK CO
VA
23301

DRUMMOND, CALVIN
27209 SAXIS ROAD
TEMPERANCEVILLE
ACCOMACK CO
VA
23412

DRUMMOND, GEORGE
27175 REDWOOD DRIVE
MELFA
ACCOMACK CO
VA
23410

DRUMMOND, RUDOLPH
28367 SHERWOOD DRIVE
NELSONIA
ACCOMACK CO
VA
23414

DRUMMOND, SHAWN
33229 NOCKS LANDING ROAD
ATLANTIC
ACCOMACK CO
VA
23303

ELLIOT, BRANDON
10362 JERUSALEM ROAD
TEMPERANCEVILLE
ACCOMACK CO
VA
23442

EVANS, ALLEN
12325 CEDAR VIEW ROAD
PAINTER
ACCOMACK CO
VA
23420

FERNANDEZ, DANIEL
6328 CIRCLE DRIVE
CHINCOTEAGUE
ACCOMACK CO
VA
23336

FIDDEMON, MAURICE
10496 SAND STREET
TEMPERANCEVILLE
ACCOMACK CO
VA
23442

FIDDEMON, ROBERT
20205 METOMPKIN ROAD
PARKSLEY
ACCOMACK CO
VA
23421

FIELDS, LEWIS
10462 SAND STREET
TEMPERANCEVILLE
ACCOMACK CO
VA
23442


FITCHETT, WEBSTER
28231 RAILROAD AVENUE
MELFA
ACCOMACK CO
VA
23410

GIDDENS, LEVON
Wanted
16060 METOMPKIN ROAD
BLOXOM
ACCOMACK CO
VA
23308

GUNTER, JAMES
16469 WEST LANE
BLOXOM
ACCOMACK CO
VA
23308

HALL, RICHARD
20186 CALVIN DRIVE
MELFA
ACCOMACK CO
VA
23410

HERNANDEZ, FRANCISCO
31434 TEMPERANCEVILLE ROAD
TEMPERANCEVILLE
ACCOMACK CO
VA
23442

HOPE, GEORGE
28197 NELSONIA ROAD
BLOXOM
ACCOMACK CO
VA
23308

HOWARD, PERRY
33312 HOLLY LANE
WALLOPS ISLAND
ACCOMACK CO
VA
23337

JOHNSON, ROBERT
5198 SWAN DRIVE
HORNTOWN
ACCOMACK CO
VA
23395

LANG, CHRISTOPHER
30225 CHURCH STREET
TEMPERANCEVILLE
ACCOMACK CO
VA
23442


LEWIS, CHRISTOPHER
ACCOMACK COUNTY JAIL
23323 WISE COURT
ACCOMAC
ACCOMACK CO
VA
23301

LYONS, MARK
Wanted
2850 BOBTOWN ROAD
MELFA
ACCOMACK CO
VA
23410

MAPP, GARRY
31305 DRUMMONDTOWN ROAD
WACHAPREAGUE
ACCOMACK CO
VA
23480

MOORE, FREDERICK
30162 BOBTOWN ROAD
PUNGOTEAGUE
ACCOMACK CO
VA
23422

MOORE, RALPH
25456 EVANS ROAD
PARKSLEY
ACCOMACK CO
VA
23421

MUSLIMANI, KHALIL
18045 ROBBINS LANE
ONANCOCK
ACCOMACK CO
VA
23417

POSTELL, DANNY
15217 WATERFIELD STREET
PAINTER
ACCOMACK CO
VA
23420

PRESS, MICHAEL
4550 FLEMING ROAD
HORNTOWN
ACCOMACK CO
VA
23395

REITER, CHARLES
15237 LOCUST STREET
ONANCOCK
ACCOMACK CO
VA
23417

REW, EARL
20098 SAVAGE LANE
ONANCOCK
ACCOMACK CO
VA
23417

RIDDLE, DANNY
16211 BIG ROAD
BLOXOM
ACCOMACK CO
VA
23308

SHEPPARD, CHARLES
19108 NIBBLET STREET
PARKSLEY
ACCOMACK CO
VA
23421

SMITH, CHRISTOPHER
9 BUNDICK STREET
ONANCOCK
ACCOMACK CO
VA
23417

SMITH, GEORGE
22478 FRONT STREET
ACCOMAC
ACCOMACK CO
VA
23301

SUMMERVILLE, KEDRIO
20282 BAYSIDE ROAD
GREENBUSH
ACCOMACK CO
VA
23357

TAYLOR, GREGORY
29387 DRUMMONDTOWN ROAD
WACHAPREAGUE
ACCOMACK CO
VA
23480

TAYLOR, JOHN
23392 CLAM ROAD
BLOXOM
ACCOMACK CO
VA
23308

TAYLOR, ROOSEVELT
26424 PARKES DRIVE
PARKSLEY
ACCOMACK CO
VA
23421

The Library of Virginia is pleased to announce that the Accomack County chancery causes, 1727-1805, and Fluvanna County chancery causes, 1779-1882, are now available on the Chancery Records Index. The Accomack County material consists of chancery suits recovered from court records found in the attic of the clerk’s office in 1996. Additional chancery from Accomack County will be added at a later date. The Fluvanna County chancery causes were separated from court records housed at the Library of Virginia. Additional Fluvanna County chancery records are available at the Circuit Court Clerk’s office.

A number of the Accomack County chancery causes for this date range concern the division of slaves. An example is Accomack County chancery cause 1799-019. This suit includes a report of a division of slaves (image # 7) among the heirs of William Taylor. Accomack County chancery cause 1783-013 contains a September 1777 letter that references British losses at the Battle of Brandywine. Accomack County chancery cause 1801-005 is a freedom suit filed by a slave named Mary claiming freedom on the basis of her mother’s Native American ancestry. She argues that her mother, Mall Cook, was “one of the native aboriginal Indians of this country” .

For more visit
http://www.virginiamemory.com/blogs/o ... _box/tag/accomack-county/

Commonwealth of Virginia
Office of Governor Bob McDonnell

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 5, 2010
Contact: Stacey Johnson
Phone: (804) 225-4260
E-mail: Stacey.Johnson@Governor.Virginia.Gov

Governor McDonnell Promotes Virginia’s Seafood Industry, Tours Vineyard in Visit to Eastern Shore

~ Participates in Groundbreaking for New Robert S. Bloxom Eastern Shore Agricultural Complex in Melfa; Highlights Wine Industry at Chatham Vineyards and Winery in Machipongo~
--Melfa Complex Named After Former Virginia Delegate and Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Robert S. Bloxom--

MELFA- Governor Bob McDonnell visited the Eastern Shore today to participate in the groundbreaking for a new Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) regional office and seafood packing facility in Melfa. Later he took a tour of the Chatham Vineyards and Winery in Machipongo. The Governor was joined on the trip by First Lady Maureen McDonnell; Virginia Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Todd Haymore; and Matt Lohr, newly appointed Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Speaking about the groundbreaking for the Robert S. Bloxom Eastern Shore Agricultural Complex in Melfa, the Governor noted, “Virginia’s seafood industry is one of the oldest industries in the United States and one of the Commonwealth’s most economically important. We are the nation’s fourth largest producer of marine products, trailing only Alaska, Louisiana and Washington. The annual economic impact of the industry is over half a billion dollars a year, and there are approximately 11,000 full and part-time jobs in Virginia connected to the seafood industry. It is a vital part of the Virginia economy of today and tomorrow. And it is with a focus on tomorrow that we are breaking ground on this new facility –it will meet the needs of our seafood industry well into the 21st century. It will also encourage the further development of one of Virginia’s greatest natural resources, our fisheries, as well as the expansion of statewide, regional, domestic, and international markets for these great products.”

Commenting on the visit to the Chatham Vineyards and Winery, McDonnell remarked, “Wineries and vineyards across the Commonwealth, both large and small, contribute significantly to Virginia’s economy, providing jobs and financial benefits. With the help of bipartisan legislation passed this session that supports the Commonwealth's wine and grape promotional and research efforts, the Virginia wine industry, including Chatham Vineyards and Winery, will be able to grow and attract more visitors from all over the world. That is a win-win for Virginia.”

Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry, Todd Haymore, added, "The Eastern Shore is one of the most important agricultural regions of the Commonwealth. "From seafood to vegetables to poultry to grains to wine grapes, the Eastern Shore is responsible for producing some of the highest quality and most in demand products in the nation and around the world. The Robert S. Bloxom Eastern Shore Agricultural Complex and workers manning this new facility will help ensure that the growers, producers, and watermen on the Eastern Shore will have the resources that they need to continue producing these top quality products."

To enhance the economic opportunities for the citizens of the Eastern Shore of Virginia, the Commonwealth is establishing a centralized, modern facility for freezing and storing fresh seafood products at the site of the Eastern Shore Farmers’ Market. Today’s system allows fishermen to unload product directly at the dock for sale to wholesale and retail outlets represented there. With blast freezing and freezer storage, fishermen can spread out the catch instead of flooding the market, and they can add value to the product, thus commanding a higher price. In addition, a new office facility for VDACS will be built to consolidate agency marketing and consumer protection services into one location. Office space for the Eastern Shore Soil and Water Conservation District will also be provided in the new office building.