Falmouth - Decline In Herring Prompts State To Seek Moratorium

[tattoobob]

http://www.capenews.net/story.php?id=6697


not my favorite thing to happen but if it is the best for the fishery then so be it

[Justfishin']

I can't believe that the Fisheries dept.s all along the East coast are'nt officially recognizing the cause of the decline in herring, shad and soon, the 'taug, scup, cunner etc.. They allowed companies like Omega Protein to absolutely decimate the mehaden population, possibly to near extinction, and they're blaming the stripers??. This is ridiculous! Bunker are (were) possibly the most important forage base availible to predator species and they allowed them to be harvested without regulation and the Fed has lent them the money to do it!.They turn them into poultry feed and cooking oil putting farmers who grew (renewable,sustained yield) feed and oil grains out of business. Bay and estuary water quality is declining as the bunker aren't there to filter the nitrogen and feed on the zooplankton. It's no wonder your'e seeing tuna caught from the beach-they don't have anything to eat offshore,so they're coming in to eat the immature bluefish. So now, they're going to punish the small commercial fishermen by closing more fisheries. The stupidity is staggering!. But, then again, Bush got elected......

[MakoMike]

Originally Posted by Justfishin'

I can't believe that the Fisheries dept.s all along the East coast are'nt officially recognizing the cause of the decline in herring, shad and soon, the 'taug, scup, cunner etc.. They allowed companies like Omega Protein to absolutely decimate the mehaden population, possibly to near extinction, and they're blaming the stripers??. This is ridiculous! Bunker are (were) possibly the most important forage base availible to predator species and they allowed them to be harvested without regulation and the Fed has lent them the money to do it!.They turn them into poultry feed and cooking oil putting farmers who grew (renewable,sustained yield) feed and oil grains out of business. Bay and estuary water quality is declining as the bunker aren't there to filter the nitrogen and feed on the zooplankton. It's no wonder your'e seeing tuna caught from the beach-they don't have anything to eat offshore,so they're coming in to eat the immature bluefish. So now, they're going to punish the small commercial fishermen by closing more fisheries. The stupidity is staggering!. But, then again, Bush got elected......

Looks like you need to do some homework, first of all, NONE of the species you listed eats menhaden. So no matter how bad a shape the menhaden populations is in, it wouldn't aftect thise species at all. Secondly, according to the ASMFC, there are ample stocks of menhaden on the east coast, the "problem" if one exists, is in localized depletion in the area where Omega protein is fishing, in the Chessapeak bay.

[Nebe]

IF they close down mass, they should close down RI too.. I lost count of all the mass plates i saw at my local run.

[Striper1]

---CUT---
Offshore commercial fisheries do not harvest herring. There is a sea herring fishery, but those fish are sold as food fish overseas. "In fact, they don’t even want the river herring,’’ Mr. Armstrong said. He added that the sea herring fishermen know that the river herring fishery is politically sensitive. However, it is known that river herring are taken as a buy catch, but there is no data that suggest that the buy catch is part of the river herring population decline.
--CUT--

BUY catch STOP the buy catch!!!!!!
I love that no data on that

The state should do more to stop poaching

Rec. guys should help cleanup the runs in the spring to help the herring get up to the ponds.

[zimmy]

Originally Posted by MakoMike

Looks like you need to do some homework, first of all, NONE of the species you listed eats menhaden. So no matter how bad a shape the menhaden populations is in, it wouldn't aftect thise species at all. Secondly, according to the ASMFC, there are ample stocks of menhaden on the east coast, the "problem" if one exists, is in localized depletion in the area where Omega protein is fishing, in the Chessapeak bay.

MakoMike,
The loss of Bunker or any major forage species absolutely does affect the other forage species. Example: Herring, shad, etc face increased predation if the population of the main forage species, ie bunker has been decimated. If the bunker aren't there the predators turn to something else. I think that's what he meant, not that shad and herring eat bunker .

[zimmy]

The ample stocks thing... I know some of the people in ASMFC and I know how much influence the commercial fisheries has in policy. I have seen the numbers and I know what anecdotal evidence I see in the lack of big bunker in NC, MD, CT, RI, and MA, which are the only places I can really comment on. It is not good anywhere. Are you happy with what you see? And with that, knowing that 85%+ of the striped bass come from the Chesapeake, I think the decline in bunker there is of most dire concern. Not that ASMFC is necessarily get anything done about it .

[Justfishin']

Originally Posted by MakoMike

Looks like you need to do some homework, first of all, NONE of the species you listed eats menhaden. So no matter how bad a shape the menhaden populations is in, it wouldn't aftect thise species at all. Secondly, according to the ASMFC, there are ample stocks of menhaden on the east coast, the "problem" if one exists, is in localized depletion in the area where Omega protein is fishing, in the Chessapeak bay.

Mike, I'm saying the species I listed are the ones that can be next to become depleted- due to predation- not that they eat menhaden. "Ample stocks" may mean that they can still reproduce a sustainable population for natural predation, not a profit based predation. Not too long ago, I could go to nearly any bay or estuary and snag up a dozen 9-12" bunker from schools 5-600 yds wide. I haven't seen any that size in a while,and other guys I've talked to haven't either."Not Overfished" means there's still some left. The fishing off Chesapeake does affect N.E., menhaden are migratory, one of the things that make the fall run great. Admittedly, I haven't been able to be out as much during the day this year as I'd like,so, has anyone seen large no.s of bunker?P.S.- Thanks Zimmy, and I agree with Nebe and Striper 1

[BasicPatrick]

Funny,

There are a few in this thread who are speaking as if they have detailed knowledge of the Menhaden Issue. Isn't it funny that at a Public Hearing on the lastest Menhaden Management Plan held in centrally located Plymouth MA at night so recs could attend, only four rec's showed up, and yes I was one of them. If we with the knowledge only complain on the internet and do not show up at the hearings, we will get what we deserve. A wise man once said that those who do not show up and participate forfeit their right to beeeaaaatttch.

By the way...if you are truely in favor of getting something done with regard to the bycatch issues in the Sea Herring Fishery, there is a hearing in fairhaven tonight and Gloucester on Wednesday. Info can be found at www.msba.net

[Justfishin']

Point taken Patrick. My alarm comes from what I've experienced while fishing and the reports of a decline in the spawning levels. So, for me it's Thanks