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

Spring 2012 ACTION ALERT>>

Greetings! Fellow Menhaden Defender,

The Battle for the Bunker continues. This is your call to action. Please do your part to help our Bunker and make sure that the ASMFC hears us loud and clear.

If possible, please attend your local hearing with your comments in hand. The hearing schedule is at ASMFC website below. If submitted otherwise, comments must be received by 5:00 PM (EST) on April 20, 2012. Do not wait until last minute, act now!

The ASMFC is currently seeking public comment on management tools for the commercial and recreational menhaden fisheries. At this stage of the process, it is important that the ASMFC include as many practical options as possible in the Amendment (except for the ridiculous 10 year timeline!) so that stakeholders and the public have an opportunity to comment.

I encourage you to add your own comments to the comment contained here. A personalized message will have a greater impact. However, the most important thing is to comment. If you would like to see more details regarding this request for public input, please visit the www.asmfc.org website, found under managed species>Atlantic Menhaden-

You may submit public comment in one or more of the following ways:

1. Attend public hearings held in your state or jurisdiction, if applicable.

2. Refer comments to your state’s members on the Atlantic Menhaden Board or Atlantic

Menhaden Advisory Panel, if applicable.

3. Mail, fax, or email written comments to the following address:

Michael Waine

Fishery Management Plan Coordinator

Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission

1050 North Highland Street, Suite 200A-N

Arlington, Virginia 22201

Fax: (703) 842-0741

mwaine@asmfc.org (subject line: Menhaden PID)

If you have any questions please call Mike Waine at (703) 842-0740.

Dear Michael Waine,

Atlantic menhaden is a critical species to our marine ecosystem, yet overfishing has occurred 52 of the last 54 years. The population is now at record low levels.

It is time for the ASMFC to act by establishing the first ever coast-wide limit on menhaden landings, along with appropriate management measures to insure that limit is not exceeded.

The ASMFC must implement the new amendment in time for the 2013 fishing season. The ASMFC has seen overwhelming, unprecedented public support for menhaden conservation: 91,000 people wrote to the ASMFC in support of leaving more menhaden in the sea. In line with its mission to manage public marine resources sustainably, the ASMFC should finalize the new amendment to the fishery management plan by October 2012.

It is important that the Menhaden Management Board:

1. Implement immediate catch reductions that will achieve the TARGET in 3 years or less. The sooner we restore menhaden abundance, the sooner it will benefit the ocean’s many predators and the east coast fisheries that depend on the commercial and sport fish that need menhaden to thrive!

2. Remove the 10-year rebuilding timeline as an option. It’s a slap in the face to the public, who have already waited a decade for the ASMFC to take action to restore menhaden, to be asked to wait another 10 years!

3. Set a total allowable coast-wide catch, with at least a 75% probability of achieving the target within the designated time frame. Menhaden must be restored throughout its historical range. There is too much at stake to take chances with recovery!

In addition

· Timely, comprehensive catch reporting must be in place to administer the coastwide quota.

· The recreational fishery should maintain de minimus status, as long as the fishery continues to catch less than 1 percent of the total.

· States that wish to apply for de minimus status must be subject to rigorous monitoring and applicable limits, beyond which they will no longer quality for de minimus status.

· The ASMFC should call for complimentary management measures to be implemented in federal waters (EEZ). The United States EEZ is the largest in the world. Menhaden management must be extended to these waters to ensure conservation of this crucially important forage species.

Overall, the ASMFC include as many practical options as possible in the Amendment, except for the absurd 10 year timeline to meet the target, and it should take action immediately, such that new management measures are implemented for the 2013 fishing season.

Respectfully,

Your name with address, state, zip code and email address

Thanks very much for your continued support and action. Please remember to follow us on Facebook, Twitter or the Menhaden Defenders Website: www.menhadendefenders.org

AND: make sure that you have a your No Bunker=No Bass sticker.

You get 2 of them for a donation of $5.

Email captpaul@menhadendefenders.org with your address.

Thanks,

Paul

With Sustainability In Question, New Jersey Environmental Officials Shut Down State's River Herring Fishery « CBS New York

With Sustainability In Question, New Jersey Environmental Officials Shut Down State's River Herring Fishery « CBS New York

East Coast Anglers Demand Positive ASMFC action!

As a local NJ fishing guide and the founder of Menhaden Defenders.org and I have been presenting to fishing clubs about the commercial over exploitation of Atlantic Menhaden, which we call Bunker. I have spoken with dozens of concerned anglers, but the ones that have affected me the most have been the guys that fish New England and Chesapeake waters and both are reporting that there are simply no bunker left inshore.
Over the past few seasons, there are less adult sized fish and few if any peanut bunker schools each fall. In the Chesapeake Bay area, they have fewer bass to catch and when caught, bass are small and malnourished, and consider themselves lucky to catch a bluefish over a pound.
NY & NJ anglers have been fortunate, enjoying relatively great fishing but we need to pay attention to our brothers in to the North and South because. Locally, we are seeing the school sizes decrease and the bunker are getting smaller, and there are fewer older, larger bunker each year.
Springtime fishing for migratory brood stock striped bass has been has been nothing short of fantastic, however this is very deceptive. The past few seasons of our fall striped bass fishing tell the real story, which is triggered by the young menhaden of the year, or “peanut bunkers”, migrating out of the backwaters.

These peanuts have been virtually nonexistent and the fantastic fall striper fishing has vaporized along with it.

It is clear to thousands of anglers fishing, from Maine to Florida that the indiscriminate industrialized removal of the bunker is happening on a daily basis and nobody is doing anything about it. Many are witnessing “localized depletion” and all of us are hoping that the ASMFC will vote in favor of the ecosystem instead of bending to commercial interests..
Here in NJ, right before our eyes we watch the planes fly over and direct the boats to move in and scoop up thousands of bunker. The bunker are taken away day after day which causes our Stripers, Bluefish and other game fish move off.
Out of sight and past the three mile mark, out in the EEZ, very large carrier type vessels that used to be part of the Atlantic Herring fleet have shifted species, moved south and joined the carnage. They have run out of Sea Herring to catch for the lobster bait so now the focus is on bunker, the next bait fish available. Over 80% of all of the bait purchased by Massachusetts bait dealers is taken from waters off of New Jersey.
Add this growing demand to the 200,000 metric tons of bunker vacuumed up annually by Omega protein for fish meal and fish oil purposes. Omega’s net set maps show that they are busy just south east of Sandy Hook and all along the offshore areas of New Jersey.

Our offshore waters have become the number one hotspot for vacuuming up all the adult, spawning age bunker that they can fit into there hulls. We realize that the ASMFC governs only state waters, but we implore them to advise NOAA to implement better observation and collect complete data on landings from the EEZ.
Both these sectors target large adult fish, the same fish that we rely on to provide the young that migrate into our back bay nursery areas and provide food for dozens of smaller and or immature species.
Keep in mind that this is not about the traditional, small scale cast net operations that provide bait to tackle shops and to recreational fisherman, this is about the multi million dollar business of providing for Lobster bait and the Reduction Industry.
The combination of Omega Proteins tonnage and the Lobster bait boom is proving to be a lethal blow to nature and the ASMFC’s own study team data proves it. The bunker population is at the lowest level in thirty years and NOW is the right time for positive action.
Understand that we as a group are not advocating to create hardship for the commercial fisherman that rely on the fish to earn a living. We seek MODERATION and an end to the sustained industrial over exploitation has landed us where we are today.
Collectively, we cannot allow selfish big business interests to continue to strip mine our waters at the current pace with complete and total disregard for all that depend on a healthy ecosystem.
By allowing more adult, spawning age fish to remain in the waters we position ourselves to benefit to the maximum if nature provides the correct conditions during spawn time. More menhaden in the water will simultaneously benefit the ecosystem and all user groups with just a few smart decisions by the ASMFC, starting with the 2012 season.

Be sure to visit http://www.menhadendefenders.org/ before Nov 2 and follow the "take Action" click thru to submit your comment card to the ASMFC directly.

Act Now!

9/7/11 Local anglers to support a cap on Atlantic Menhaden fishing

Mission: Restoration of the mid-Atlantic food chain

Beachgoers near Asbury Park experienced a rare marine spectacle this July: a family of humpback whales feeding less than 200 yards offshore. As the whales jumped into the air, they sprayed foot-long fish in every direction, gulping to catch as many as possible in their mouths. In between the “Oohs” and “Ahhhs,” onlookers inevitably began to ask, “What fish are the whales feeding on?”

Few aside from the local anglers knew the answer: menhaden, also known as “bunker.” Much like herring, bunker swim in large schools, feeding on such microorganisms as copepods and plankton. The whales alternated between casual filter feeding on the reddish-colored mats of plankton and then, when the time was right, lunging mouthfuls of bunkers. Over the course of three days, the delicate marine food chain depleted itself. The humpback whales and the onlookers disappeared.

Listed as “endangered” in the United States, the humpback whale feeds on a fish that is, itself, in decline as a result of commercial overfishing. The question we then need to ask is, “If there were no bunker, what would the whales eat?” By extension, what would the bluefish, osprey, seals,striped bass, tuna and other wildlife eat? As recreational fishermen, particularly striped bass anglers, have long known, all of these species feed regularly on bunker, one of the primary ocean forage fish.

Two commercial sectors fish for menhaden. The commercial “reduction” industry lands 80% of all menhaden. One company dominates the market: Omega Protein Corporation, based out of Texas and Virginia. Each year, Omega fishes 200,000 metric tons of menhaden from mid-Atlantic waters. They “reduce,” or grind up the fish which they market internationally as fish meal and omega-3 fish oil—all for profit.

Bunker fishmeal and oil provide a protein boost in human and pet food chains. When used as feed in aquaculture, which currently supplies 60 percent of the fish we eat, bunker fish meal and oils help move fish to market faster. When used in dog and cat food, these products enhance omega-3 levels for a fraction of the cost of using whole or sustainably harvested fish.

The remaining 20 percent of the total Atlantic menhaden catch is attributed to the New England bait fishery, which provides menhaden for the huge lobster fishery that spans several states. Over the course of the last decade, the Atlantic herring fishery in New England has been depleted, forcing lobstermen to seek another source of bait.

Traditionally, small vessels have been used to collect menhaden for the recreational fishing, and commercial crab and lobster markets. These small vessels are now being accompanied by larger carrier vessels ( photo above), to optimize and increase daily catches to unprecedented levels.

As a result of the overexploitation of menhaden by the reduction fishery, and increased use of menhaden by the bait industry, fishermen along the Atlantic coast are witnessing localized depletion of menhaden and the gamefish that depend on them.

To this day, fishing operations face no limit or “cap” on the amount of bunker they can remove from the ocean. The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC), the governing body charged with managing fishery resources, announced in March that “the Atlantic menhaden is not overfished and overfishing is occurring.”

Marine biologists use the term “overfishing” to describe the situation when fish are being taken out of the ecosystem faster than nature can replace them. Additionally, they state that 32 out of the past 54 years of the commercial fishery, overfishing has been occurring. It’s no mistake that the public doesn’t have a clue as to what is going on, but this is about to change.

The time to act is now. For the first time in the history of this commercial fishery, the ASMFC is taking public comment on a Draft Addendum that “proposes establishing a new interim fishing mortality threshold and target (based on maximum spawning potential or MSP) with the goal of increasing abundance, spawning stock biomass, and menhaden availability as a forage species.” In short, the ASMFC will put teeth in the effort to end overfishing and return menhaden stocks to healthy levels.

We have until November 2 to make our voices heard.

Please visit our website www.menhadendefenders.org to learn more and send your comments to the ASMFC.

It’s up to the recreational angling community to get together and turn around the decline.

Tight lines,
Capt Paul Eidman
Menhaden Defenders

Battle over Bunkers: Anglers call to Action

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.

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.

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!

Capt. Paul Eidman

www.menhadendefenders.org