Update: ASMFC Herring bulletins
Hey folks, I just received this via e-mail list. This e-mail pertains specifically to herring, but you can bet the regulations on shad won't be far behind. I have mixed feelings about this. All along we knew that something needed to be done. I just hope that the standards of measuring the biomass stay as they are now, and aren't modified somewhere down the road if the biomass target is not reached.
What this means to you as fishermen is that many will have their spring herring fishing either blocked or severely restricted. Even though it's boring to read through things like this, it benefits us all to stay informed. I will try to keep you posted with any further developments.
From: FWLISTS FWLISTS
To: njfreshwaterfishing@listserv.state.nj.us; njmarinefishing@listserv.state.nj.us
Sent: Fri, 22 Aug 2008 1:01 pm
Subject: Comment on River Herring Management Plan Amendment
The following is the text of a news release from the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:ASMFC Shad and River Herring Board Releases Draft River Herring Amendment for Public Comment and Review Alexandria, VA - The Commission's Shad & River Herring Management Board has approved sending forward Draft Amendment 2 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for River Herring for public review and comment.
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It seeks input on proposed requirements for population and bycatch monitoring, as well as commercial and recreational management measures. It is anticipated that the majority of coastal states will be conducting public meetings on the Draft Amendment; information on those meetings will be released once they become finalized.
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The Draft Amendment has been developed in response to widespread concern regarding the decline of river herring stocks. While many populations of blueback herring and alewife, collectively known as river herring, are in decline or remain depressed at stable levels, lack of fishery-dependent and independent data makes it difficult to ascertain the status of river herring stocks coastwide.
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Between 1985 and 2004, commercial landings of river herring dropped by 90 percent from 13.6 to 1.33 million pounds. In 2007, Commission member states reported river herring landings of approximately 1.1 million pounds.
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In response to declining stocks within their own waters, four states -- Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and North Carolina -- have closed their river herring fisheries.River herring stocks are a multi-jurisdictional resource occurring in rivers and coastal waters. River herring bycatch continues to be a significant concern.
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Preliminary analyses indicate that, in some years, the total bycatch of river herring species by the Atlantic herring fleet alone could be equal to the total landings from the entire in-river directed fishery on the East Coast.
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The Draft Amendment proposes a suite of management measures to address these concerns and ensure the survival and enhancement of depressed stocks or the maintenance of presently stable stocks.The Draft Amendment proposes mandatory data and bycatch monitoring provisions, as well as options to close fisheries by river system or establish a coastwide moratorium on the river herring fishery.
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Specific commercial measures include area closures, escapement provisions, and landings reductions by river systems, as well as limited access.
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Recreational measures include recreational license/permit, limiting recreational harvest by the days of the week, coastwide creel limit, gear restrictions, and area or seasonal closures by river system. The Draft will be available by early September and can be obtained by contacting the Commission at (202) 289-6400 or via the Commission's website at www.asmfc.org under Breaking News.
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For more information, please contact Toni Kerns, Senior Fisheries Management Plan Coordinator for Management, at (202) 289-6400 or tkerns@asmfc.org. *************************Tina BergerPublic Affairs SpecialistAtlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission1444 I Street. NW, Sixth FloorWashington, DC 20005Phone: (202)289-6400FAX: (202)289-6051Email: tberger@asmfc.org www.asmfc.org
River Herring Meetings and Comment opportunities
If any of you may be affected bya closure of the river herring season, please make it to one of these meetings, and let your voice be heard.
The following is a press release from the Atlantic States Marine Fishereies Administration:
Please note that this press release revises and replaces the September 26 th press release by adding the details of the VMRC hearing and an additional NYSDEC hearing on December 2, as well as modifying RIDFW's hearing date from November 6th to the 18th ; all other information remains the same.
States Schedule Hearings on Draft River Herring Amendment Public Comment Accepted Until January 1, 2009 Atlantic coastal states have scheduled their hearings to gather public comment on Draft Amendment 2 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for River Herring.
The dates, times, and locations of the scheduled meetings follow:
Maine Department of Marine ResourcesDecember 2, 2008, 6 PMWiscasset High School272 Gardinner RoadWiscasset, MaineContact: Terry Stockwell at (207) 624-6553December 8, 2008, 6PMEllsworth High School299 State StreetEllsworth, MaineContact: Terry Stockwell at (207) 624-6553December 11, 2008, 6PMUniversity of Maine Machias Science Center9 O'Brien AvenueMachias, MaineContact: Terry Stockwell at (207) 624-6553
New Hampshire Fish and GameNovember 5, 2008, 7PMUrban Foresty Center45 Elwyn CenterPortsmouth, New HampshireContact: Doug Grout at (603) 868-1095
Massachusetts Division of Marine FisheriesDecember 1, 2008, 6PMPlymouth Radisson180 Water StreetPlymouth, MassachusettsContact: Melanie Griffin at (617) 626-1528 December 2, 2008, 6PMAnnisquam River Marine Fisheries Station30 Emerson AvenueGloucester, MassachusettsContact: Melanie Griffin at (617) 626-1528
Rhode Island Division of Fish and WildlifeNovember 18, 2008, 6PMURI Narragansett Bay Campus, Corless Auditorium215 South Ferry RoadNarragansett, Rhode IslandContact: Phillip Edwards at (410) 789-0281
Connecticut Dept. of Environmental ProtectionNovember 6, 2008, 7PMMarine Headquarters333 Ferry RoadOld Lyme, Connecticut Contact: David Simpson at (860) 434-6043New York Dept. of Environmental ConservationDecember 2, 2008, 7PM
Bureau of Marine Resources Headquarters205 North Belle Mead Road, Suite 1East Setauket, New YorkContact: Steve Heins at (631) 444-0433December 8, 2008, 7PMHudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve256 Norris Point WayStaatsburg, New YorkContact: Andy Kahnle at (845) 256-3072
New Jersey Division of Fish and WildlifeNovember 6, 2008, 7PMGalloway Township Public LibraryGalloway, New JerseyContact: Tom McCloy at (609) 292-7794Maryland Dept. of Natural ResourcesOctober 27, 2008, 6PM
Matapeake Natural Resources Police Training AcademyConference RoomStevensville, MarylandContact: Bob Sadzinski at (410) 643-6776 x 2121Virginia Marine Resources CommissionNovember 17, 2008; 6PM
Charles City Government Administrative Building10900 Courthouse RoadCharles City, VirginiaContact: Jack Travelstead at (757) 247-2247
North Carolina Division of Marine FisheriesNovember 18, 2008, 6:30PMCollege of Albemarle1208 North Road StreetRoom FC121B/CElizabeth City, North CarolinaContact: Sara Winslow at (252) 264-3911
South Carolina Dept. of Natural ResourcesOctober 14, 2008, 6PMSantee-Cooper Auditorium1 Riverwood DriveMonks Corner, South Carolina
Contact: Bill Post at (843) 953-9821
Draft Amendment 2 seeks input on proposed requirements for river herring population and bycatch monitoring, as well as commercial and recreational management measures. It is anticipated that the majority of coastal states will be conducting public meetings on the Draft Amendment; information on those meetings will be released once they become finalized.
The Draft Amendment has been developed in response to widespread concern regarding the decline of river herring stocks. While many populations of blueback herring and alewife, collectively known as river herring, are in decline or remain depressed at stable levels, lack of fishery-dependent and independent data makes it difficult to ascertain the status of river herring stocks coastwide.
Between 1985 and 2004, commercial landings of river herring dropped by 90 percent from 13.6 to 1.33 million pounds.
In 2007, Commission member states reported river herring landings of approximately 1.1 million pounds. In response to declining stocks within their own waters, four states-Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and North Carolina-have closed their river herring fisheries. River herring stocks are a multi-jurisdictional resource occurring in rivers and coastal waters.
River herring bycatch continues to be a significant concern.
Preliminary analyses indicate that, in some years, the total bycatch of river herring species by the Atlantic herring fleet alone could be equal to the total landings from the entire in-river directed fishery on the East Coast.
The Draft Amendment proposes a suite of management measures to address these concerns and ensure the survival and enhancement of depressed stocks or the maintenance of presently stable stocks.
The Draft Amendment proposes mandatory data and bycatch monitoring provisions, as well as options to close fisheries by river system or establish a coastwide moratorium on the river herring fishery. Specific commercial measures include area closures, escapement provisions, and landings reductions by river systems, as well as limited access.
Recreational measures include recreational license/permit, limiting recreational harvest by the days of the week, coastwide creel limit, gear restrictions, and area or seasonal closures by river system. Fishermen and other interested groups are encouraged to provide input on Draft Amendment 2, either through attending public hearings or providing written comments.
Copies can be obtained by contacting the Commission at (202) 289-6400 or via the Commission's website at www.asmfc.org under Breaking News. Public comment will be accepted until 5:00 PM on January 1, 2009 and should be forwarded to Kate Taylor, FMP Coordinator, 1444 'Eye' Street, NW, Sixth Floor, Washington, DC 20005; (202) 289-6051 (FAX) or at comments@asmfc.org (Subject line: River Herring). For more information, please contact Kate Taylor at (202) 289-6400. *************************
Tina BergerPublic Affairs SpecialistAtlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission1444 I Street. NW, Sixth FloorWashington, DC 20005Phone: (202)289-6400FAX: (202)289-6051Email: tberger@asmfc.org www.asmfc.org ASMFC Vision: Healthy, self-sustaining populations of all Atlantic coast fish species or successful restoration well in progress by the year 2015.
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