Situation Update

Our Goal is Simple- Increase the population of Menhaden Along the East Coast.

Set catch limits NOW, based on the best available science

Last fall, you all helped in the historical process of beginning to change the way this fishery works. The ASMFC voted to set a new overfishing threshold and target in order to create a sustainable fishery. Now the time has come for the ASMFC to set the rules for the 2013 season and beyond. This is the first time in the history of this fishery that there will be an actual limit placed upon the amount of bunker that can be removed from the waters.

Starting with August 8ths meeting, the ASMFC will be meeting to revise management goals and implement new rules for the commercial harvest of menhaden. As we get closer to the final decision in October, you will begin to hear rumblings from many different angles all in an effort to delay the decision and to avoid catch reduction of any kind. This rhetoric will undoubtedly try to sway public opinion and attempt to derail the management process and utilize the usual “bad science” and “faulty data collection” talk.

We as recreational fisherman and concerned citizens, have had ENOUGH of this talk. We are tired of the future of our waters being determined by commercial financial interests. We are tired of the needs of a few benefiting at the expense of the masses.The ASMFC must not delay in any way and move forward so these fish can rebound NOW.

The facts are in and current data has made it very clear that overfishing has occurred 52 out of the past 54 years. Population levels of this species have dwindled from 200 billion fish down 88% to an all time, century low of 20 billion fish. Older, egg laden adult fish continue to be taken out of our waters in very large numbers and the overall biomass of menhaden has shrunk. Historically, there were evenly distributed schools, with millions of fish of many different ages spread from Florida to Maine and all points in between.

Even in areas such as Raritan Bay, New Jersey, where the bunker are plentiful, the fish are smaller. Yes, there are still some nice size schools present, but the absence of the larger, older adult fish is obvious. Clearly, we need to say goodbye to the large scale, industrialized methods that are strip mining our coastal waters daily.

Unfortunately, much of this industrialized fishing takes near sensitive estuaries and everything that depends upon these fish, at every stage of growth suffers. The days of ZERO catch limits are over, there are simply too many creatures that depend on this species for survival.

Starting this week, it’s up to you to get involved and make your voice heard once again. Make it clear to your state’s ASMFC commissioners and congressional delegates that this fish is the life blood of our waters and that you are depending on them to make the right decision and vote with Mother Nature instead of big business!

Use the list below to identify your commissioner and let him know ASAP:

STATE		ADMINISTRATOR		GOVERNOR'S APPOINTEE		LEGISLATOR
ME		Patrick C. Keliher Department of Marine Resources 21 State House Station Augusta, ME 04333-0021 Phone: 201/287-9972		Stephen Train 33 Vernon Road Long Island, ME 04050-3116 Phone: 207/766-5738		Senator Brian Langley 11 South Street Ellsworth, ME 04605 Phone: 207/667-0625
NH		Douglas E. Grout NH FG 225 Main Street Durham, NH 03824 Phone: 603/868-1096 FAX: 603/868-3305		G. Ritchie White 30 Lang Road Rye, NH 03870 Phone: 603/964-2211		Rep. David H. Watters 19 Maple Street Dover, NH 03820 Phone: 603/862-3983
MA		Paul J. Diodati, Chair MA DMF 251 Causeway Street, #400 Boston, MA 02114 Phone: 617/626-1530 FAX: 617/626-1509		William A. Adler Massachusetts Lobstermen's Association PO Box 397 Green Harbor, MA 02041 Phone: 781/545-6984 FAX: 781/545-7837		Representative Sarah K. Peake State House Room 473F State House Boston, MA 02133 Phone: 617/722-2210
RI		Robert Ballou RI Fish and Wildlife Division, DEM 3 Fort Wetherill Road Jamestown, RI 02835 Phone: 401/423-1926 FAX: 401/423-1925		William A. McElroy 3229 Tower Hill Road Wakefield, RI 02879 401/789-0527		Representative Peter F. Martin 1 1/2 Willow Street Newport, RI 02840-1917 Phone: 401/924-2402
CT		David G. Simpson CT Dept. of Energy and Environmental Protection, Marine Fisheries 333 Ferry Road PO Box 719 Old Lyme, CT 06371 Phone: 860/434-6043 FAX: 860/434-6150		Dr. Lance Stewart P.O. Box 177Coventry, CT 06238-0177 Phone: 860/884-7220		Representative Craig A. Miner House Republican Office L.O.B. Room 4200 Hartford, CT 01606 Phone: 860/842-1423 FAX: 860/240-0207
NY		James J. Gilmore, Jr. NYSDEC, Marine Resources 205 North Belle Mead Road East Setauket, NY Phone: 631/444-0433 FAX: 631/444-0434		Pat Augustine 25 Stuart Drive Coram, NY 11727 Phone: 631/928-1524 FAX: 631/928-3540		Senator Owen H. Johnson 23-24 Argyle Square Babylon, NY 11702 United States Phone: 631/669-9200
NJ		David Chanda NJ FW Mail Code 501-03 PO BOX 420 Trenton, NJ 08625-0420 Phone: 609/292-2965 FAX: 609/292-8207		Thomas P. Fote 22 Cruiser Court Toms River, NJ 08753-6246 Phone: 732/270-9102 FAX: 732/506-6409		Assemblyman Nelson T. Albano1028 East Landis Avenue Vineland, NJ 08360-4041 Phone: 856/696-7109 FAX: 856/696-7159
PA		John A. Arway PA Fish & Boat Commission 1601 Elmerton Avenue Harrisburg, PA 17110-9299 Phone: 717/705-7801		Loren W. Lustig 795 Stone Jug Road Biglerville, PA 17307-9790 Phone: 410/386-2103 FAX: 410/876-8282		Rep. Mike Vereb Pennsylvania House of Representatives PO BOX 202150Harrisburg, PA 17120-2150 Phone: 717/705-7164
DE		David E. Saveikis DE Division of Fish and Wildlife 89 Kings Highway Dover, DE 1990l 302-739-9910		Roy W. Miller 31421 Melloy Court Lewes, DE 19958-3863 Phone: 302/645-7103		Senator Robert L. Venables, Sr. 116 Hearn Avenue Laurel, DE 19956 Phone: (302)744-4298 FAX: (302)739-6890
MD		Thomas O'Connell MD DNR 580 Taylor Avenue Annapolis, MD 21401 Phone: 410/260-8281 FAX: 410/260-8278		William J. Goldsborough Chesapeake Bay Foundation 6 Herndon Avenue Annaplois, MD 21403 Phone: 410/268-8816		Senator Richard F. Colburn 5210 Heron Road Cambridge, MD 21613-3572 Phone: 410/228-1137 FAX: 410/376-3737
VA		Jack Travelstead VMRC 2600 Washington Avenue, Third Floor Newport News, VA 23607-4317 Phone: 757/247-2247 FAX: 757/247-8101		Catherine W. Davenport 1005 Poplar Neck Road White Stone, VA 22578 Phone: 804/435-2173		Senator Richard H. Stuart Senate of Virginia P.O. Box 1146 Montross, VA 22520 Phone: 804/493-8892 FAX: 804/493-8897
NC		Louis Daniel, Ph.D., Vice-Chair NC DMF 3441 Arendell Street PO BOX 769 Morehead City, NC 28557-0769 Phone: 252/726-7021 FAX: 252/726-0254		Willard W. Cole, Jr. 406 Penrose Court Greensboro, NC 27410-3114 Phone: 336/294-3919		Rep. William L. Wainwright NC House of Representatives 300 North Salisbury Street, Room 613 Raleigh, NC 27603-5925 Phone: 919/733-5995
SC		Robert H. Boyles, Jr. SC DNR PO Box 12559 Charleston, SC 29422-2559 Phone: 843/953-9304 FAX: 843/953-9159		Dr. Malcolm Rhodes 7 Guerard Road Charleston, SC 29407 Phone: 843/556-4731 FAX: 843/571-2787 Chair, ASMFC Governors' Appointees
GA		A.G. "Spud" Woodward GA CRD One Conservation Way, Suite 300 Brunswick, GA 31520 Phone: 912/264-7218 FAX: 912/262-3143		John Duren 8 Calico Crab Retreat Savannah, GA 31411-3015 Phone: 912/598-9362 FAX: 912/598-7966		Rep. Jon G. Burns Georgia General Assembly Chair, Game, Fish and Parks Committee State Capitol, Room 228 Atlanta, GA 30334 Phone: 404/656-5099 Fax: 404/656-6897
FL		Aaron Podey FL FWCC Division of Marine Fisheries Management 2590 Executive Center Circle E, Suite 201 Tallahassee, FL 32301 Phone: 850/617-9630 Fax: 850/487-4847		William R. Orndorf 1950 Palomino Road Melbourne, FL 32934		Senator Thad Altman Florida Senate, District 24 6767 N. Wickham Road, Suite 211 Melbourne, FL 32940 Phone: 321/752-3138