New Regs on the Commercial Menhaden Fishery in RI

[JohnR]

For Release: July 3, 2007
Contact: Gail Mastrati
Stephanie Powell

DEM FILES EMERGENCY REGULATIONS REGARDING COMMERCIAL MENHADEN FISHERY THAT TAKE EFFECT TODAY
PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management today filed emergency regulations regarding the commercial menhaden fishery that become effective at 2 p.m. Tuesday, July 3.

The regulations, which apply to purse seining, provides a possession limit of 75,000 pounds of menhaden per vessel per day, whether fishing or transiting Rhode Island waters. The regulations also require advance notice to DEM of intent to fish or transit as well as daily reporting of landings. The commercial fishery will be open Mondays through Fridays, except for official state holidays, from sunrise to sunset until the fishery is closed. The daily cap will be adjusted as necessary, with fishermen notified when they call in their advance notice. Those giving advance notice to fish via purse seining for menhaden in Rhode Island waters, and those with purse seining equipment intending to transit Rhode Island waters with menhaden aboard should call DEM's enforcement office at 222-3070.

An estimated eight million pounds of menhaden migrated into Narragansett Bay waters through June, and DEM scientists estimate four million pounds are necessary to maintain Bay health and an excellent feed base for other fish like striped bass. Slightly more than two million pounds have been landed by commercial fishing operations. There are now less than two million pounds available to the commercial fishery. If more than two million pounds are harvested there will be an adverse impact upon the menhaden fishery and the ecosystems which it supports. DEM will continue to monitor regularly to see if there is any new migration, and, if so, adjust the cap upwards accordingly.

Menhaden are an important contributor to the health of the bay and the ecosystem, as well as the economy. They are a bait fish for the lobster fishery, attract striped bass, and are a valuable recreational fishery.

From: Rhode Island DEM