NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (AP) - Tens of thousands of dead fish have washed up on Virginia's Eastern Shore after a net recently tore during menhaden harvesting.
Media outlets report that Omega Protein alerted the Virginia Marine Resources Commission of the tear on Oct. 7. The fish began washing ashore over the weekend. The company estimates it lost about 75,000 fish.
Commission spokeswoman Laurie Naismith says Omega mobilized a cleanup crew, which worked to clean up the dead fish at the company's cost.
Despite cleanup efforts, thousands of menhaden carcasses lined the beach Monday at Savage Neck Dunes Natural Area Preserve in Northampton County. There were also reports of dead fish littering the beach at Cape Charles over the weekend.
Omega did not immediately respond to the Daily Times of Salisbury's request for comment on the cleanup.
