THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, April 9, 1996 TAG: 9604090289
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DIANE TENNANT, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 63 lines
Virginia Beach Del. Glenn R. Croshaw's planned bill seeks to make disruption of fishing a Class 3 misdemeanor, giving fishermen the same protection as existing laws provide for hunters and trappers. The earliest the bill could take effect would be February 1997.
Anti-fishing activists dropped a lure in the press pool last month, and a state delegate has risen to the bait.
Angered by newspaper reports that activists plan to protest fishing on local piers and docks, Del. Glenn R. Croshaw on Monday said he will seek to make disruption of fishing a Class 3 misdemeanor.
His announcement comes after People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals said it would seek to save fish by protesting at piers and docks across the country, including in Virginia Beach, this summer.
Tracy Reiman, PETA's fish campaign coordinator, said at least two other states also reacted.
``Alabama, Louisiana and other states have either passed or are considering passing similar legislation as a result of hearing about our campaign,'' Reiman said. ``We believe that if anyone is being harassed, it's the fish. A law such as this won't deter us.''
Croshaw's planned bill would give the same protection to fishermen as existing law gives to hunters and trappers. That law was enacted to keep protesters from such activities as entering the woods in front of hunters, lying in front of trucks and banging on pans to frighten away game, Croshaw said. ``This sort of tightens the net a little bit and sends the message that we think fishing is a lawful activity,'' in addition to being a family activity and a boon to the economy.
Croshaw, a Virginia Beach Democrat who fishes on Rudee Inlet when he has time, said the earliest his legislation could take effect would be February 1997, and then only with an emergency enactment. An emergency enactment requires more support, but Croshaw said he thought his bill would garner that backing.
That will not affect PETA's local protests this summer, Reiman said.
``They can pass laws to try to stop us from educating people about cruelties to fish, but it will get them nowhere,'' Reiman said. ``We will still be there protesting, we will still be there speaking out for fish and other animals that are abused for fun.''
PETA will be speaking out from downtown Norfolk come June.
The group plans to move its national headquarters to a Front Street building that has its own dock.
On some levels, Hampton Roads appears ready to welcome PETA. Federal workers here, through payroll deduction for charitable donations, earmarked more than $9,000 for PETA during the fund drive that ended in December 1995.
That was the second-highest amount received from any area by the organization, and it came before PETA had announced its pending move.
The local protests may include skipping rocks across the water and maneuvering boats among fishing craft.
PETA's campaign will begin in early May unless a suitable target is found for this month, Reiman said. by CNB