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.

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Oscar Smith High School to host Virginia AAA Wrestling Championships!

Chesapeake's Oscar Smith High School will host the Virginia High School league's AAA division state wrestling championship's this Friday and Saturday, February 23-23. Four qualifiers from each of four Virginia regional tournaments will compete in weight classes 103, 112. 119, 125, 130, 135, 140, 145, 152, 160, 171, 189, 215, and Heavyweight. Defending Champion Colonial Forge HS, of Stafford, Virginia is favored to repeat as team champion, although they will face stiff challenge from Northern Virginia's Westfield and Langley High Schools, and the Eastern Region's Great Bridge, Kellam, Cox and Kempsville High Schools.

In wrestling tourneys, wrestlers compete in a dual elimination bracket system, however, once a wrestler loses his first match, he wrestles in the consolation or "wrestleback" bracket and can finish no higher than 3rd (unless the first loss is in the Championship bout. Wrestler's score team points for winning a bout (2 points), and can score additional team points for a win by fall (pin)(2 points), "tech fall" (bout victory by 15 points)(1.5 team points), or major decision (bout victory by 8 or more points)(1 team point). Wrestlers advancing to the championship match earn 10 team points instead of 2, and the Champion earns 4 team points instead of 2.

Tourney action gets underway Friday at 11:00 am, and continues thru Friday evening, then Saturday the semi-finals are at 11:00 am, with the Championship finals at 7:30 pm. Top wrestlers to watch include George Billy, Lake Braddock at 119, Michael Garafalo at 119, Max Huntley at 189, and Grant Chapman at 215, although upsets abounded at regional tourneys and are sure to occur at this tourney too!



Wrestlers to watch in the tourney include:

From expected team title contenders:

Colonial Forge: Shane Gentry (112), Michael Garofalo (119), Ian Squires (125), Joe Pantaleo (130), Drew Squires (135), Oscar Huntley (171), Max Huntley (189).

Westfield: John Orchard-Hayes (112), Tyler Hutchens (130), Jake Carey (145), and Lamar Owusu (215)

Great Bridge: Austin Hurst (103), Louis Johnson (140), Joey Grainger (152), Jared King (160), Alan Clamp (171), and Billy Curling (189)

Langley: Anthony Kotoriy (103), Michael Bowman (125), Colin Zoski (135), David Helmer (152), and Malachy Morris (189).

Cox: Ben Dorsay (135), Te Edwards (140), Chris Penny (189), Jack Burbank (HWT)

Other expected title contenders include:
103 - Beau Martino, Battlefield, Bob Hauser, WT Woodson, and Ryan Hunsburger Fauquier.
112 - George Billy Lake Braddock.
119 - Raymond Borja, Hayfield, Roman Perryman, Robinson.
125 - Michael Holcomb, Kellam
130 - Jared Anongos, James River
135 - Sal Leonardi, Hampton
140 - Patrick Nowaczyk, James River
145 - Cory Bartolo First Colonial
152 - Steven Ours, Hayfield
160 - Sam Myers, Fairfax, Sean Abrams, Kellam
171 - Brett Miller, Centreville
189 - Jesse Kruse, Annandale
215 - Grant Chapman, Hickory, William Jefferson, Hampton, David Wilson, Granby
HWT - Nick Cook, Fauquier, Quintas McCorkle T.C. Williams