Menhaden ALERT

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) has put out Addendum V to the menhaden fishery plan for public comment The opportunity exists for a major change in the way menhaden are managed. The Addendum calls for status quo-no change in action-or:

1. Leave 15% of the breeding stock in the water .This is called the threshold action reference point. We have +/-8% now.
2. Manage to a target which is more conservative than the threshold which requires corrective measures.

3. Proposed are a range of targets 20%, 30% and 40% to avoid overfishing.

MSSA strongly favors the most the most conservative target proposed (40%) as well as the 15% threshold. Various scientific organizations recommend 40% as the minimum level of breeding stock left in the water for a forage fish like menhaden.

Two public hearings will be held in our area. Delaware will hold it's meeting at 7pm on 9/26 @ 901 Pilottown Road in Lewes. Maryland will hold it's public meeting @ 6-9 pm on 10/11 @the department of natural resources building at 580 Taylor Ave. in Annapolis You are urged to attend and voice your opinion. For too long the Commissioners who regulate fish have not paid enough attention to what the public wants to see in the way fish are managed. Now is the time to make your opinion count.

If you cannot attend but are willing to participate, ASMFC accepts written comments up to Nov2. They should be addressed to:

Ms. Toni Kerns
Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission
1050 N. Highland ST. Suite 200A-N
Arlington,VA 22201
Email @ tkerns@asmfc.org