the asmfc is calling for more research on menhaden over fishing and the affects on the chesapeake bay there have not said yes or no yet to regs on menhaden
Working towards healthy, self-sustaining populations of all Atlantic coast fish species, or successful restoration well in progress by the year 2015 Atlantic States MarineFisheries Commission NEWS RELEASEFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PRESS CONTACT: Tina Berger November 9, 2004 (202) 289-6400 ASMFC Explores New Course for Atlantic Menhaden Management New Castle, NH – The Commission’s Atlantic Menhaden Management Board moved forward today with exploring a new course for menhaden management, incorporating sound science. It has charged its Technical Committee to address outstanding issues associated with the ecological role of menhaden in the Chesapeake Bay and the feasibility of incorporating ecosystem-based management approaches into the menhaden plan. “Today, the Board has reaffirmed its commitment to comprehensively address the issues surrounding menhaden management both regionally and coastwide,” stated Board Chair, Jack Travelstead of Virginia. “The Board wants to ensure that its decisions are scientifically sound and represent the consensus of all interested stakeholders. The Commission’s Atlantic Menhaden Workshop this October was an important first step in this process, with its recommendations forming the basis of the Board’s actions today.” Over the next several months, the Technical Committee will be conducting an analysis of a suite of research and management issues. Topping the list will be a determination as to whether localized depletion of menhaden stocks in Chesapeake Bay is occurring or likely to occur under current management of the coastwide stock of menhaden. Other issues include identifying the likely causes of low recruitment of menhaden in Chesapeake Bay; evaluating ecological reference points and recruitment indices for the Bay; and determining whether the effects of time and space openings or closures and harvest caps can be modeled, measured, or monitored well enough to be considered for management tools. A preliminary report will be submitted to the Board by August 2005. The Board will meet jointly with the Technical Committee at the February 2005 ASMFC Meeting Week to develop revised goals and objectives for menhaden management to incorporate ecologically-based reference points in the stock assessment and management measures for menhaden. The Board also recommended to the Commission’s Interstate Fisheries Management Program Policy Board the establishment of a Multispecies Technical Committee for the purpose of continued review and consideration of multispecies management. These actions are a result of the Commission’s Atlantic Menhaden Workshop held on October 12 – 14, 2004. The workshop brought together state, federal, and university scientists to discuss the ecological role of Atlantic menhaden, the effects of concentrated harvest in the Chesapeake Bay, and possible management measures. Representatives from the environmental, commercial, and recreational stakeholder groups helped plan and participated in the workshop. The scientific workshop participants developed a list of consensus statements and The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission was formed by the 15 Atlantic coastal states in 1942 for the promotion and
protection of coastal fishery resources. The Commission serves as a deliberative body of the Atlantic coastal states, coordinating
the conservation and management of nearshore fishery resources, including marine, shell and anadromous species.
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recommendations for Board consideration. The Workshop Report will be finalized over the next few weeks and will be available on the Commission’s website at
www.asmfc.org. A complete list of Technical Committee charges also can be found on the ASMFC website under the Press Release page, 63rd Annual Meeting Week Summary. For more information, please contact Nancy Wallace, Fisheries Management Plan Coordinator, at (202)289-6400 or
nwallace@asmfc.org. PR04-34