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I just typed this up.. Everyone is free to use this and send it to where ever you think it will help the most.
Also, if there are any errors, let me know and i will change or add to this...
Via Facsimile (INSERT FAX NUMBER)
NAME
ADDRESS
Re: Pair-Trawling for Atlantic Herring
Dear __________________:
I am writing to voice my strong opposition to the current fishing techniques used the the Atlantic Herring pair-trawling industry. There is strong evidence that the large Corporate boats are so efficient at catching these fish that they are dumping hundreds of thousands of dead or close to death Cod, Pollack, Haddock, River herring, striped bass, scup and shad, not to mention seals, and porpoises. back into the water after they haul their nets. What makes Pair Fishing so devastating is that 2 large boats find a school of fish and completely engulf the school with one net, thus capturing everything in that school, which consists of the atlantic herring and all of the predators who eat herring. The nets are raised, everything is dumped on the deck and any species that can not be sold is kicked overboard- everything that goes overboard is called ‘By-catch”
Myself and other people who are concerned about this technique are not opposed to the commercial take of Atlantic Herring, but are extremely opposed to this pair trawling technique. Smaller commercial draggers have smaller nets and can be more selective on how they approach a school of fish and the by-catch issues are much smaller. Furthermore, the ratio of fish landed per crew man is much smaller on a normal sized commercial dragger, so more jobs could be created if pair trawling could be made illegal.
I am not sure if you are aware of the current assessment of the North American River Herring, but over the past decade we have watched as their numbers that are counted at local herring runs drop by considerable numbers. We are at a point now were possession has been made illegal for these fish to allow them to recover. Their numbers have not been recovering and one of the major reasons for this is that River Herring school with Atlantic Herring in the winter before they migrate to the rivers in the spring. These giant Pair Trawling operations no not have the ability to scan all of the herring on the decks and throw back the river herring. As a result, millions of protected River Herring are being packaged and sold as Atlantic Sea Herring.
In closing, I urge you to take action against this incessant waste of our natural resources. Please act to eliminate pair trawling from state waters and to please help protect the local river herring and other species that are being killed in this wasteful manner.
Very truly yours,
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NAME
ADDRESs
TELEPHONE NUMBER
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