Three bills in Virginia’s General Assembly target menhaden fishing in Chesapeake Bay, responding to conservationists’ concerns about declining populations affecting species like osprey. House Bill 1048 would halt purse seine fishing by Ocean Harvesters – the Bay’s only reduction fishery – until proven non-harmful. HB 1049 proposes spreading the existing 51,000 metric ton quota across periods. Senate Bill 474 would fund Virginia Institute of Marine Science population studies. Ocean Harvesters warns the measures threaten hundreds of jobs in the Northern Neck’s largely minority, unionised workforce. Maryland representatives claim fewer menhaden reach their waters, whilst Ocean Harvesters disputes this. The bills await hearings.