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This is a letter I composed and sent(75times)to all the state reps.Anyone who wishes(not just R.I residents)can feel free to edit in their own name,and send it in.Thanx. Dear Sir or Madam,as I'm sure you're aware,bill H.5165 would designate Narragansett bay a Menhaden Management Area.Passage of this bill would outlaw the use of commercial purse seines(nets)within the bay.If you aren't aware,the menhaden is a baitfish which is essential to all of our gamefish.Pure protien,the menhaden keep our gamefish fat and healthy.They have been called "the most important fish in the ocean".They serve another important function as well.Filter-feeders,they clean the water in the bay.An adult menhaden(bunker)cleans four gallons of seawater a minute.They swim along with open mouths taking in seawater,and filter out nutrients.These nutrients are the cause of our yearly algae blooms,and the massive fish and shellfish kills that stem from them.This has earned bunker the nick-name"the liver of the bay".
As you are probably aware,there is only one company(Ark Bait),an out of state company at that(Swansea,Mass.),who purse-seine inside Narragansett bay.They use spotter planes to find the schools of menhaden,then encircle them with their nets.Basically,they decimate the schools of bunker,along with Striped Bass(our most valuable gamefish)who are feeding on them.It is IMPOSSIBLE to net bunker,without netting bass as well.It is already illegal to net bass,so BY LAW,they must be thrown back dead,into the water.This is a terrible waste.It's usually the larger breeding stock bass that are killed needlessly.
Striped bass are beginning to really feel the heat.Without menhaden,most are skinny and weak,making them highly suseptible to MYCOBACTERIOSIS.A disease that many bass are dieing from.
The economic value of our Striped Bass is HUGE.Countless thousands of sportsmen and women come to R.I.(The Ocean State)to pursue Striped bass,along with our residents.We spend HUGE amounts of money in R.I.on everything from bait and tackle,gas,boats,fuel,gear,food,lodging,and a variety of other essentials.Sportsmen and women contribute in a major way,to every aspect of our states economy.
Passage of this bill is VERY important.Thousands and thousands of Sportsmen and women (and voters) will be closely watching the outcome.Thank you very much for taking the time to read this,and thank you in advance for your consideration.If need be,I can provide you with corroborating evidence for the claims I've made.Again thank you.
Robert McManus
Johnston,R.I.
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