The state just confirmed that our fight to keep residential waters clear of commercial cages has been successful. I am shaking with relief that our families can swim and boat without fear of these hazards again. Thank you for staying by my side while we protected the shoreline we love.
September 10, 2016
Final supporters
Join the list of concerned Virginia citizens who want to see tougher restrictions placed on commercial oyster farming and aquaculture practices that are happening too close to residential areas and recreational waterways! The use of aquaculture cages to grow seed oysters for commercial harvesting in high-traffic areas found in many populated waterfront communities like Hampton Roads and elsewhere, poses a tremendous risk to a large population of boaters, wake boarders, skiers, paddle boarders, kayakers, fisherman and others who use the waterways for fun and recreation. The risk of injury to people, especially at lowering tides, is a real threat! And the economic impact of these operations could be devastating to waterfront properties, both in home values and tax values.
For example, the population of Hampton Roads is estimated at 1.75 million people. Add to that, the millions more that are tourists visiting the area each year. Needless to say, that's a lot of people on the waterways. The Virginia Marine Resources Commission manages water bottoms in public trust for the citizens of the Commonwealth. The purpose of this petition is to encourage state legislators and the VMRC to pass laws and regulations that prohibit commercial oyster farming in water bottoms that are within 500 feet of the shoreline in residential waterfront communities or in highly used recreational waters.
If you would like to add your name to the many people concerned about this issue and help change the laws to Protect and Preserve our Saltwater Recreation – please sign this petition today! Thank you for your support!
Updates
June 22, 2016
I spent the morning kayaking near the shore and had to dodge two unmarked cages that were nearly invisible just below the surface. These waters belong to all of us and I am tired of watching our families risk injury while the authorities look the other way.
June 22, 2016
Seeing this grow makes me think of the hours I spend on the water with my kids and the fear of letting them jump off the dock because of those hidden metal cages. This momentum shows that I am not the only person who feels like our local waterways are being taken away from us. We finally have the attention of people who can actually change these rules.
Reached 100 supporters
June 22, 2016
59 Comments
We need a balance between the oyster industry and all the other users in the Lynnhaven. The Lynnhaven should not be a commercial zone
there needs to be a balance that protects the recreational opportunities that help make Virginia beach a tourist destination and helps protect property values of waterfront homeowners.
We are on Mill Dam Creek. They have been putting them right off our boat lift. At a pretty narrow spot. Makes it hard to move through the waterway.
Oyster leases are being approved with no consideration on impact to navigation (unless shown on Army Corp of Engineer Charts) in decades old neighborhood channels. As a result waterfront homeowners (or homeowner associations) access to waterways may be advserly impacted. This matter needs to be regulated and modified so all parties will benefit
I live on Broadbay and it would be very dangerous to have these oyster beds around our docks on property. We've already had friends that I've had an accident with their kids on one. Also we have had issues with the commercial crabbers being nasty and putting crab pots where we swim and refusing to remove them 15 feet from our beach.
This is a problem that needs to be addresed immediatley
These are preventing the Belle Isle Marina kayaker from being able to paddle safely across to Factory Point. Very dangerous.
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The state just confirmed that our fight to keep residential waters clear of commercial cages has been successful. I am shaking with relief that our families can swim and boat without fear of these hazards again. Thank you for staying by my side while we protected the shoreline we love.
September 10, 2016
Final supporters
Join the list of concerned Virginia citizens who want to see tougher restrictions placed on commercial oyster farming and aquaculture practices that are happening too close to residential areas and recreational waterways! The use of aquaculture cages to grow seed oysters for commercial harvesting in high-traffic areas found in many populated waterfront communities like Hampton Roads and elsewhere, poses a tremendous risk to a large population of boaters, wake boarders, skiers, paddle boarders, kayakers, fisherman and others who use the waterways for fun and recreation. The risk of injury to people, especially at lowering tides, is a real threat! And the economic impact of these operations could be devastating to waterfront properties, both in home values and tax values.
For example, the population of Hampton Roads is estimated at 1.75 million people. Add to that, the millions more that are tourists visiting the area each year. Needless to say, that's a lot of people on the waterways. The Virginia Marine Resources Commission manages water bottoms in public trust for the citizens of the Commonwealth. The purpose of this petition is to encourage state legislators and the VMRC to pass laws and regulations that prohibit commercial oyster farming in water bottoms that are within 500 feet of the shoreline in residential waterfront communities or in highly used recreational waters.
If you would like to add your name to the many people concerned about this issue and help change the laws to Protect and Preserve our Saltwater Recreation – please sign this petition today! Thank you for your support!
Updates
June 22, 2016
I spent the morning kayaking near the shore and had to dodge two unmarked cages that were nearly invisible just below the surface. These waters belong to all of us and I am tired of watching our families risk injury while the authorities look the other way.
June 22, 2016
Seeing this grow makes me think of the hours I spend on the water with my kids and the fear of letting them jump off the dock because of those hidden metal cages. This momentum shows that I am not the only person who feels like our local waterways are being taken away from us. We finally have the attention of people who can actually change these rules.
Reached 100 supporters
June 22, 2016
59 Comments
I am not against oyster farming, but I am against commercial aquaculture farming in the waters of the Lynnhaven Estuary adjacent to heavily populated residential properties which also have been used for decades by local citizens and tourists for recreational purposes.
We need a balance between the oyster industry and all the other users in the Lynnhaven. The Lynnhaven should not be a commercial zone
there needs to be a balance that protects the recreational opportunities that help make Virginia beach a tourist destination and helps protect property values of waterfront homeowners.
We are on Mill Dam Creek. They have been putting them right off our boat lift. At a pretty narrow spot. Makes it hard to move through the waterway.
Oyster leases are being approved with no consideration on impact to navigation (unless shown on Army Corp of Engineer Charts) in decades old neighborhood channels. As a result waterfront homeowners (or homeowner associations) access to waterways may be advserly impacted. This matter needs to be regulated and modified so all parties will benefit
I live on Broadbay and it would be very dangerous to have these oyster beds around our docks on property. We've already had friends that I've had an accident with their kids on one. Also we have had issues with the commercial crabbers being nasty and putting crab pots where we swim and refusing to remove them 15 feet from our beach.
This is a problem that needs to be addresed immediatley
These are preventing the Belle Isle Marina kayaker from being able to paddle safely across to Factory Point. Very dangerous.
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I am not against oyster farming, but I am against commercial aquaculture farming in the waters of the Lynnhaven Estuary adjacent to heavily populated residential properties which also have been used for decades by local citizens and tourists for recreational purposes.