For what it is worth - from the N.L. Day


http://www.theday.com/eng/web/newstand/re.aspx?reIDx=585DB54B-C12B-4D28-8F8A-AA3CF01E154F

Interesting article. Doesn't make a distinction between sea herring and river herring and while those boats are "targeting" river herring, there is almost definitely river herring mixed in - especially now as these fish are coming inshore soon to spawn (wonder if any is at the canal run - I've seen them there as early as this time in February)

The article is confusing. It says that the tuna and bass fishermen are worried about the bycatch, and then it goes on to list bycatch as cod, flounder and etc. I would think that the tuna and the bass are feeding on the atlantic herring and the river herring? I know that there is a serious lack of both species where I fish (LIS). I am glad that they are at least being looked into. I hear that the tuna are further and further out, due to lack of bait like herring. Why don't they just cut back on the herring fishery for a while and see if the other fisheries improve (I bet they will)....

Every fall a Russin canning ship would always show up in Narragansett Bay. This year it never showed up... I dont know if they were asked to leave, or the herring population was dropping so they left....
Anyone know what the story is on that??
I'm also worried about the menhaden population, especially adult menhaden.

Eben:

This site has info about the menhaden issues.


http://www.savethefish.org/action_items_striped_bass_main.htm

thanks van:)

Talked to DZ a coupla nites ago before he left for FLA and he told me a friend of ours who is the senior biologist for RI DEM said there are now 'huge shoals' of herring right off the coast - and this guy is out doing trawls every day.

That afternoon I was crossing the Jamestown Bridge and saw a large flock of gulls in the ripline that runs up the West Passage :shocked: Nahhhhh, couldn't be....

Yup, I got the rosary beads out praying for an early spring - and I'm not even Catholic, they're a loaner set.

ok, here is a question. if a saltwater license was put into place, and funds would help research like this, would you support it? the article says they have just over $400K budgeted to the study but need $1.5 million. not saying i support it, just getting discussion going. :rocketem:

If and only if the funds were directed at conservation isues, etc... I would happily pay for a liscense.

I'd pay for a license if the funds went into fisheries programs. I would be upset if it went into a "general fund".

Does anybody else find it odd that they need 1.5 million to provide observers on 1/2 of the vessels? I wonder what that job pays....

The outfit that was at Davisville, freezing Herring and Macks and stuff, as I understand it, has moved to Fish Island on the New Bedford-Fairhaven Bridge. I have seen pair seiners unloading there often and noticed yesterday that a foriegn flag freezer boat is at the end of that pier getting something.
Could be the herring are coming into New Bedford to get frozen and shipped some where else???:confused: :eek:

Originally posted by nor-easter
... noticed yesterday that a foriegn flag freezer boat is at the end of that pier getting something.

All of you should get a clue. That boat is bulk cold storage for bodies. Humans are being kidnapped by aliens and are being used as hosts for the alien colonization of Earth.

Haven't you guys been watching the X-Files? :rolleyes: