Hello all S-B members,
We are all aware of the poor numbers of River Herring/Alewives that were in the runs this past spring. When we take this information and add it to the fact that from NJ to RI River Herring/Alewives are in much worse condition it does not take a scientist to know that drastic measures may be needed to prevent a complete collapse of the River Herring/Alewife fishery. Many scientists are putting most of the blame on the drought conditions of the past few years though there is considerable suspicion of at sea interactions with the Sea or Atlantic Herring commercial fleet. though to be fair, there is not a lot of evidence to support these suspicions.
Bottom line is that the MA DMF is holding hearings next week regarding a complete closure of both harvest and possession of River Herring/Alewives for 2006. A little bird told me that RI is considering doing the same and the two states may even mirror each other.
My personal opinion is that a year closure to try and save this fishery is appropriate. However, I am only in favor of this if it is across the board, commercial and recreational alike.
This being said I am the MSBA Gov't Affairs Chair and represent the MSBA membership. I need your feedback and need it fast. Please post your opinions to this list or e-mail me directly at BasicPatrick@aol.com.
The hearings are being held on October 24th and 25th. This coming Monday and Tuesday. Directions and information is at the following link.
http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dmf/marinefisheriesnotices/october_hearings_092305.pdf

Thank you and get me those comments

Captain Patrick Paquette

Massachusetts Striped Bass Association
Gov't Affairs Chair
UMS Delegate
Annual Sportfishing EXPO Chair

Just one more reason why I have stoped using herring!!
I have not used a herring in 3 years now and have given away 3 bait tanks cause they are such a pain to get them!!

I vote to close it till such a time they have been rebuilt, but I agree it has to be accross the board!! Including the factory ships off shore! They are more to blame then anyone I am sure!

I vote to shut it down completely for a year, but as stated before it has to be closed across the board, what is good for one is good for all.

Tough call though because even if everyone here, on every other site, and anyone that fishes voted to close it I'm sure somewhere along the line someone would get their pocket greased to keep it open.

Just the way it works from where I see it!

Stocks cannot rebound if more and more fish are taken every year, regardless of the species. I think nets should be outlawed on fishing boats, give them a rod and reel, let them do it our way and see how the stocks do. I see it as greed to so called fish for a living, there's other ways to make a living.

My opinion is catch all the fish you can now (legally) because in the near future there won't be any fish left to catch, everything gets taken out of the water and nothing gets put back, the stocks are doomed to collapse.

Patrick, i agree with you on the closures. I was under the impression that it takes three years for the herring to complete a full cycle. I do have one question though.. Has it helped Conneticut? They are in about their third or fourth year now.

Need to have all states have a closure on herring fishing for 3 years
in order to revive this species!!!
This should involve all types of fishing (Commercial and general)

Shut it down! The Mattapoisett River has been shut down for two years now and the numbers are still falling. I don't think you can point a finger at one thing as the cause of the decline of the herring ,it a combination of many things . Poaching ,drought ,commercial fishing - can the commercials really tell the difference between river and sea herring when they drop a set? NO
Also I believe the water quality of the runs has a lot to do with it. With more and more Chem-lawn houses along our rivers as well as septics that may or may not be up to par dumping nutrients into the rivers ,who knows what that does to the survival rate of the spawn. Then when you add to the mix dropping watertables your screwed .The Santuit River had a great run when I was a kid , now it is nonexistant. With all the golf courses drawing down Santuit Pond there isn't enough water for the run. Look at the color of some of our bays by May or even earlier if they're shallow They look like pea soup! Check out Shoestring Bay with primordial alge mats by the end of May. Not only does the state need to close the runs but it needs to take control of development and enforce the conservation laws insted of the local Conservation Commissions who let things get by with a wink and a nod to the good old boys or because thier threatened by lawyers and developers if they turn them down .
The entire system needs to be looked at -closures , environmental resources and law enforcement. WE need to organize and hammer our state reps ,go to town meetings and even Con Com meetings to let them know we are watching and we don't like what we see. WE need to put aside the its not my town ideas and let the State know that we all vote and WE need TO vote!
I'm sorry for the rant but after 12+ years on Conservation commissions and moving back to SE Mass and seeing the changes ,I have become a little discouraged ( ya think) with the state and local govs as well as the population that has let it happen. I know you can't stop change but you can control it. I'll stop now - I think I've had too much coffee.

I'm with you 100%. Shut it down across the board for as long as it takes to recover. Maybe if we set an example, the ocean herring reduction fleet might catch on.!!!

I am for protecting the fisheries
For some reason they are calling
them Herring they are Alewife
S-B Earlier thread (http://www.striped-bass.com/Stripertalk/showthread.php?t=26662)

I am for it if it is a total ban . meaning no posession !.
Rec, Com even com Lobster and they have to stop the dragging

Complete closure of ALL takes by ALL groups. And sadly it may need to be for 4 to 5 years as that is the typical spawning cycle...

Commercial Dragging has to stop.
With the recent JV with Eastern European countries still happening around NE
This stock will never recover, just like west coast salmon.
If they are intercepted before the get back it will never build the biomass back.
Unfortunately I do not think ASFMC ,NMFS and MFW really want to build it back up to a sustainable level.
Read Vanishing Species. Good read.

Close them down across the board for at least a five year period, so that an accurate assesment can be made.