Search continues for sites for commercial fishermen

Stamper’s Bay Landing on the Piankatank River near Hartfield may not make a good boat landing for potential development of commercial fishing and other maritime business endeavors.

At the Middlesex County Board of Supervisors’ Tuesday, Jan. 7, regular meeting, Hartfield Supervisor Bill Harris informed Rick Wiatt of the engineering and design firm of Vanasse Hangen Brustlin (VHB) that he is “against” making the site at Stamper’s Bay a commercial fishing destination.

“There is not enough commercial seafood on the Piankatank River to support a Stamper’s Bay site and I feel you are fleecing the federal government (grant program) by saying that it is a good site,” he said. “I am 110% in favor of doing the landing at Wake (Mill Creek Public Landing).

He also argued that the intersection of Twiggs Ferry Road and Stamper’s Bay Road is one of the most dangerous intersections in the county and that commercial development at Stamper’s Bay Landing would only enhance that problem.

Wiatt said the project can be scaled back, but noted there are needed improvements at the landing whether for commercial or recreational use. He also noted there are commercial fishing activities going on in Piankatank waters as reported to VHB from local commercial fishermen.

Officials of the Virginia Watermen’s Association have for years warned that suitable onshore commercial fishing locations in the region where watermen can off-load payload into trucks and for other maritime activities are rapidly being encroached upon by residential development.

Other most favorable sites include:

in Mathews County:

• East River Boat Yard
• Davis Creek Landing
• Winter Harbor Landing

in Gloucester County:

• The Corduroy Canal at Captain Sinclair’s
• Perrin Wharf
• William’s Landing

in King & Queen County:

• Mattaponi River Public Access Site near the town of West Point

in Essex County:

• Rappahannock River Park in the Town of Tappahannock