Maybe the first big step in the Menhaden Fishery?

[JohnR]

We all know that the Menhaden is the most important forage fish to the Bass and just about everything else in the Atlantic, right? Well - HOPEFULLY - this is the first positive step - and not the last positive step - towards properly managing the forage all the species are reliant on:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 10, 2004
CONTACT: Courtney Thompson
CHowellRFA@aol.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASMFC VOTES TO ADOPT ECOSYSTEM BASED MANAGEMENT FOR MENHADEN

NEW CASTLE, N.H.-In a motion written and spearheaded by Maryland Assistant Secretary of Natural Resources, Pete Jensen, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) Menhaden Management Board resolved to tackle the issues associated with the ecological role of menhaden in the Chesapeake Bay yesterday.

While menhaden are not edible by humans, they are one of the most important fish in the Chesapeake. Menhaden are the prime source of sustenance for striped bass, bluefish, weakfish and other predators so they serve an important role at the foundation of the food chain.

However, menhaden are also the number one target of the menhaden reduction industry which uses a fleet of large purse seine vessels to harvest enormous amounts of menhaden from the Bay primarily to process them for their oil.

For several years, the Recreational Fishing Alliance (RFA) has been working hand-in-hand with the Maryland Saltwater Sportsfishermen's Association (MSSA) to address anglers' concerns that the reduction fleet is causing a depletion of menhaden in the Chesapeake and possibly coast-wide. The reduction fleet uses enormous purse seine nets which when deployed, can remove whole schools of the small oily fish in a single pull. One of the biggest problems for menhaden is that they move by the millions in tight schools and are visible from spotter aircraft. These aircraft can cover large areas and lead the purse seiners directly to the fish.

This is a unique fishery,said Jim Donofrio, Executive Director of RFA. Because the fish travel predictable routes, can be seen from the spotter plains, and then removed so effectively, it would certainly be possible for the reduction fleet to catch the very last school if left unregulated.

Yesterday's vote calls for a joint meeting of the Management Board and the Menhaden Technical committee in early February at which the joint group will outline new goals for the stock structure of menhaden stocks.

Bill Windley, long-time MSSA President and RFA representative at the ASMFC feels that this is a giant step in the right direction. "Unless the Board backs away from this issue, and I do not see that happening, they have chosen a well organized approach which even though it will not be finished as quickly as some would like, will ultimately find and implement the right measures for the management of this fishery."

[Nebe]

Sounds great! lets hope that this works out for all those little pogies.

On another happy note Clammer and I saw a pod of adult pogies yesterday. This is the first time I have seen adult pogies since the 80's.



Reduction fleet?

[nor-easter]

Yes Eben, Reduction Fleet....The Pogie Sieners catch for the Reduction Plants that cook the fish, extract the oils and other stuff for the various industries that depend on the parts from the pogie.
The reduced parts are used in perfume, cosmetics like lip stick and skin creams on down the line. They even use the dried meal for fertilizer. Scales were used in making jewelry, eyes are used in bass fishing plugs.
Every thing except the smell is put to good use!

[cheferson]

Seen large pods of adults consistantly this week , ALL NEAR EBENS CLIENTS HOUSE , just kidding. They are around though saw 2 snagged up just a bit ago.

[fishaholic18]

I saw adults this am. No big bass though.

[cheferson]

You were probally at the same spot i was fishaholic.

[Team Rock On]

By PAMELA WOOD, Staff Writer

Despite calls to restrict the harvesting of menhaden, a regional fisheries agency yesterday declined to impose any limits, instead ordering more extensive research on the lowly fish that plays a vital role in the ecology of the Chesapeake Bay.

At a meeting of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission in New Hampshire yesterday, the Menhaden Management Board declined to cap the commercial menhaden fishery.

The board, which regulates the fishery up and down the East Coast, did call for extensive research on menhaden. That motion was sponsored by board member Pete Jensen, an associate deputy secretary of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.

A coalition of fishing and environmental groups, including the Annapolis-based Chesapeake Bay Foundation, had called for catch limits while more research is conducted. Members of the coalition, dubbed "Menhaden Matter," saw yesterday's action as better than nothing.

"While it was still a punt, at least it was a punt in the right direction," said #^&#^&#^&#^& Brame of the Coastal Conservation Association, a sportfishing group.

"We're all supportive of doing the things in this motion, but it's all long-term stuff," said Bill Goldsborough, a senior scientist with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. "We don't feel we have that much time."

The CCA, the CBF and other groups are concerned that menhaden may be fished out of existence. The small fish serve as food for rockfish and other bay fish, and act as filter feeders, cleaning bay waters.

But they also are valued by a commercial fishing industry. Companies like Omega Protein of Texas sweep up menhaden in giant nets, turning them into nutritional supplements. The technique, called "purse-seining," isn't allowed in Maryland waters.

Menhaden also are used in cosmetics, in pet food and as bait.

Omega has a significant presence in Virginia, and captures millions of pounds of menhaden in Virginia's part of the bay and along North Carolina's coast.

Toby Gascon, Omega's vice president of government affairs, said there's no proof that any catch limits are needed. Besides, Omega has no plans for significant increases in its fishing operations.

"Current science indicates no action is needed to keep the population thriving," he said.

Omega will support catch limits only if research shows menhaden are threatened.

Mr. Goldsborough of the CBF said there are signs of trouble already. Menhaden levels in the bay are dropping, the fish aren't reproducing as well, and rockfish that eat menhaden are getting skinnier.

He said a temporary cap to keep harvesting at current levels would be prudent.

"We feel that there are a lot of warning signs that the menhaden stock is declining in the bay, causing a number of ecological problems," he said.

The menhaden board will meet in February with a technical committee made up of scientists who will conduct the research. By August, that group will provide a preliminary report.

Those advocating catch limits are counting on the matter coming up again. There was a motion at yesterday's meeting for temporary caps, but it was immediately tabled.

Mr. Goldsborough said he hopes the matter of menhaden management doesn't get tangled up in the bureaucracy and various committees of the fisheries commission.

"This can go on a long time if you let it," he said.

[BasicPatrick]

Well now, there we have two views of the meeting I attended two days ago. The first is the RFA view and the second is the CCA view. I attended the meeting on behalf of MSBA. I spent much of my two days of meetings with RFA Lobbyist Mike Doebley & the Chair of the Menhaden Advisory panel, Bill Windley.

Here are my views.

What I think is that we saw the first ever so slight blink or crack in the very powerful commercial Menhaden lobby. The motion that passed sets up a meeting between the Menhaden management board and the Menhaden technical committee at the February ASFMC meeting. The purpose of the meeting is for the two groups to explore ways to incorporate the forage and ecological value of Menhaden stocks into the way they are managed. At the end of this meeting the Technical committee will go about the task of getting new adjusted science to reflect this new direction in the management of Menhaden. The Technical committee will come back with a "preliminary report" six months later. Real substantive changes are a full 1-2 years away, but they are coming.

Many many groups deserve credit for this change in direction. RFA, CCA, and many others including Environmentalists have been banging away on this issue for a very long time.

What bothered me about what I saw and learned this weekend is that the lack of Menhaden in the NorthEast was basically an afterthought. It really was not talked about. I did find out that Menhaden do not follow a North south Migratory pattern like Striped Bass. They migrate inshore to spawn and then move offshore. Not one of the scientists could answer why we get tons of baby bunker in the Fall. As with all aspects of fisheries management, more study is needed and there is no money.

I also attended the dogfish and Striped Bass management board meetings and will post on these soon.

If you are glad I or any other advocates were in attendence remember that we can only go if the clubs and organizations have 1)members and 2) money to send us with your proxy.

[Mr. Sandman]

I am glad RFA types and other recs attended these things and you have my support but unfort'ly I don't see this as a giant anything. THis is a meeting....nothing will happen except a bunch of posturing, some chest beating and the start some bogus research that we already KNOW the results. These are nothing more then stall tactics IMO. You need to have a federal body mandate these guys into compliance tomorrow, not study the situation for a few more years while they continue to rape the oceans of life.

[afterhours]

S.T.P. - SAVE THE POGIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Navy Chief]

This whole issue really annoys me. How long are they going to study Menhaden for? It's common knowledge that they have a major affect on striper and other gamefish.

On the west coast they have alot more control on commercial fisheries. Those guys have a set amount of fish that they can keep and then the season is closed. Sometimes the Salmon season is only open for 3 days.

The fact that these fish are used for fertilizer means that they are disposable to the commercial industry. If they keep unlimited harvesting of these fish they will end up like the Monterey California Sardine industry. The gamefish and commercially viable spieces will suffer as well.

I have to say that the entire fishing regulation system on the east coast sucks. I was reading the regs and if you get caught with an undersized striper in rhode island you will get a $50 dollar fine. In California, if you get caught with an undersize fish of any spieces you'll get fined about a thousand dollars and you're boat or car will get impounded (along with all your fishing equipment). It's time to tighten things up around here.

[Vectorfisher]

I agree Navy Chief but I think you will need to lobby against some of these or most of these judges for that matter. If they did in fact stricten the game laws the judges will have to enforce the law just the way it is written, for example MGL states conviction of a year and fines for bringing unregistered firearms into the state and that is the first thing the judges throw out of court and there are many more You just can't write laws and never enforce them.

[Springtides]

Nice work Basic!!! Keep it up. Could be time(after the holidays) for a type of fundraiser/raffle to at least cover travel etc. for you folks.

[Hooper]

Originally posted by Navy Chief
This whole issue really annoys me. How long are they going to study Menhaden for? It's common knowledge that they have a major affect on striper and other gamefish.

On the west coast they have alot more control on commercial fisheries. Those guys have a set amount of fish that they can keep and then the season is closed. Sometimes the Salmon season is only open for 3 days.

The fact that these fish are used for fertilizer means that they are disposable to the commercial industry. If they keep unlimited harvesting of these fish they will end up like the Monterey California Sardine industry. The gamefish and commercially viable spieces will suffer as well.

I have to say that the entire fishing regulation system on the east coast sucks. I was reading the regs and if you get caught with an undersized striper in rhode island you will get a $50 dollar fine. In California, if you get caught with an undersize fish of any spieces you'll get fined about a thousand dollars and you're boat or car will get impounded (along with all your fishing equipment). It's time to tighten things up around here.