Fishing from my boat or on the beach, I see and hear the spotter planes buzz overhead, directing all the Menhaden (bunker) boats where to set their nets. April through November, Monday through Friday, sunup to sundown, the netting continues without any catch or quota limit.
It is clear to everyone that fishes these waters that when the bunkers are here the fishing is fantastic, and then after just a few days of netting an area, all the bunkers are gone and so are the gamefish. For years we watched this happening, yet nobody is doing anything to stop it. Menhaden have simply fallen off the radar and the commercial companies know it.
Be it in state waters or offshore, bunker schools along the Atlantic coast are being decimated by commercial fisherman as if there was an infinite supply of fish. They fish with complete disregard for the recreational fisherman, related fishing businesses or the environment. The market demand for fish meal and fish oil is exploding worldwide, and the boats are getting bigger and more facilities are being built to keep up with the demand.
It is clear to everyone that fishes these waters that when the bunkers are here the fishing is fantastic, and then after just a few days of netting an area, all the bunkers are gone and so are the gamefish. For years we watched this happening, yet nobody is doing anything to stop it. Menhaden have simply fallen off the radar and the commercial companies know it.
Be it in state waters or offshore, bunker schools along the Atlantic coast are being decimated by commercial fisherman as if there was an infinite supply of fish. They fish with complete disregard for the recreational fisherman, related fishing businesses or the environment. The market demand for fish meal and fish oil is exploding worldwide, and the boats are getting bigger and more facilities are being built to keep up with the demand.
Commercial lobstermen have simply run out of Herring in New England and now the focus has turned to bunker with no end in sight.
Just about every predator that lives in, on or near the water feeds on these fish at some stage.
Just about every predator that lives in, on or near the water feeds on these fish at some stage.
In the fall, anglers rely on the vast schools of this years young (peanut bunkers) to move out of the back waters and migrate down the shoreline. This mass movement triggers the normally fantastic fall fishing season that we all have come to treasure. Striped bass, tuna, bluefish, weakfish all gorge themselves in preparation for the long winter ahead. For the past three years, we have watched these schools VANISH before our eyes and our normally fantastic fall fishery is going with it.
Industry spokesman continue to spew lies to the public and clientele about the sustainability of the resource and how “ocean friendly” there fishing methods are. If this is so true, then why are all the baby bunkers gone?
Recreational anglers are fed up with being treated like second rate citizens and must band together as one to take on greedy commercial interests. The upcoming ASMFC vote November to recognize these important fish is critical. The public comment period will open around Sept. 1
We all need to make sure that the ASMFC adopts measures that keep the maximum amount of the mature, egg laden menhaden in our waters to insure the future of the Menhaden and in turn the future of our fishery. The exploitation of these vital fish must end now!
Industry spokesman continue to spew lies to the public and clientele about the sustainability of the resource and how “ocean friendly” there fishing methods are. If this is so true, then why are all the baby bunkers gone?
Recreational anglers are fed up with being treated like second rate citizens and must band together as one to take on greedy commercial interests. The upcoming ASMFC vote November to recognize these important fish is critical. The public comment period will open around Sept. 1
We all need to make sure that the ASMFC adopts measures that keep the maximum amount of the mature, egg laden menhaden in our waters to insure the future of the Menhaden and in turn the future of our fishery. The exploitation of these vital fish must end now!
Capt. Paul Eidman
www.menhadendefenders.org
