Menhaden Bill News

[Nebe]

Alot of lobstermen are agianst this bill so i just drafted up a brief letter that can be emailed to our represntitives explaining why more menhaden are good for lobsters and lobstermen-

Dear Representative …………….,

Thank you for sponsoring Bill H.5165 that would prohibit the purse seining
of menhaden in Narragansett Bay. Being an avid striped bass fishermen I can not tell you how many bass I have caught with lobsters in their stomachs. This is a sign that the abundant striped bass population can not find its Ideal food- the menhaden. The Lobstermen are quick to point out that they use menhaden for bait and if purse seining is banned they will have no bait to use, or the costs will rise, but I doubt they realize how many more lobsters could be harvested if Narragansett bay had a balanced ecosystem. Menhaden are the base of a strong and healthy ecosystem and with a healthy base, all species will flourish with the passing with this bill. The striped bass and bluefish will have their food, the lobsters will feed off the scraps that fall down from feeding fish. It’s the natural food chain at its finest.


Sincerely
name
address

[vanstaal]

done

[TC23]

I posted this on SOl so I thought I would post it here as well. Hope no one minds.

"Just had a second conversation with Steve Mederios of RISAA. He encourages out of staters to contact the RI House Committee on the Environment regarding this bill. Out-of -Staters should emphasize their tavel to RI to target Striped Bass and the number of days they spend here and the money they spend. Again leave Ark out of the equation, this is about the ecology or the tourism. Attendance at the hearing in two-three weeks at the State House is encouraged. BTW the lobstermen are bombing the committee,re: loss of work, etc"

And...
"Just talked to a state rep who understands the bill and supports it. The tough part of this process will be getting the bill out of committee onto the floor. That means that we need bodies in the seats in the hearing room at the state house when the bill is brought up for discussion. The more bodies the better the chance of passage. I will call Steve Mederios and ask himto contact me when he has a hearing date. I will be on the West Coast 2/17-2/25 so Someone else should contact him and ask for the same intel. Once we know the date of the hearing we need to repeat the emails to the committee members and get our butts up to the hearing. Remember, if you don't go it won't pass"

[zacs]

good work

[Springtides]

Keep it up, its needed