bunker to be cut by 37%

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Baltimore Sun
The interstate panel that oversees fishing along the Eastern Seaboard voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to cut the menhaden catch by up to 37 percent next year in an effort to protect the species and, by extension, striped bass.
The 14-3 vote by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission was hailed by environmentalists and criticized by commercial fishermen who make their living catching menhaden for processing into animal feed and dietary supplements and for bait.

Boston Globe:
After years of pressure from environmental groups and recreational fishermen, a panel that regulates fishing from Maine to Florida decided yesterday in Boston to reduce the catch of menhaden by as much as 37 percent of the number caught last year.

“What the commission did is akin to swatting a gnat with a sledgehammer,’’ said Ron Lukens, a senior fisheries biologist for Omega. “It’s absolutely a disappointment. We knew we were going to take a cut, but this is a little too much to swallow.’’

Bangor Daily News:
At a meeting in Boston, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission voted 14-3 to cut the amount of menhaden that can be harvested annually from 183,000 metric tons to 174,000 metric tons. The commission must now draft and vote on a plan to implement the new rule, which is likely to become effective in May 2013, spokeswoman Tina Berger said.

Washington Post
At a meeting in Boston, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission voted 14-3 to cut the amount of menhaden that can be harvested annually from 183,000 metric tons to 174,000 metric tons.

If you do the math, it looks like a 5% reduction. That doesn't seem to be significant at all. It looks like another smoke and mirrors job.

So really that means no progress?

all BS to me final vote in 2012 and if approved as new evidence can be submitted against it, wouldn't go into effect until 2013

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Originally Posted by hookset

If you do the math, it looks like a 5% reduction. That doesn't seem to be significant at all. It looks like another smoke and mirrors job.

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It sure reads that way . . .

Kill all the bunker. 90% of the surf and boat guy would stop fishing because they don't know how to tie their shoes without a piece of bunker on the hook. Simple solution, bass saved.

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Originally Posted by hookset

If you do the math, it looks like a 5% reduction. That doesn't seem to be significant at all. It looks like another smoke and mirrors job.

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Yeah, but the guy who started the movement now gets more $$ to fight, and buy a new car with.:rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by jigfreak

Kill all the bunker. 90% of the surf and boat guy would stop fishing because they don't know how to tie their shoes without a piece of bunker on the hook. Simple solution, bass saved.

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couldn't have said it better watch if they win and tackle shops want $5.00 a bunker how they will cry there are tons of bunker just lest less fish to eat them since the snag and drop pro's have killed most of the breeding stock

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Originally Posted by finchaser

the snag and drop pro's have killed most of the breeding stock

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It gets me sick to see the carnage that happens in the Spring bunker blitzes. I was once part of that, so I am guilty as well. And in the 70's, I and a lot of my friends killed a lot of striped bass. And the weakfish, we used to catch them from Fortescue in the Delaware bay by the trash can full. We did a lot of damage to the stock back then but did not know any better.
Now we know better and have a better handle on the fish stocks. Because this is so, we should put the striper before the bunker. The striper generates billions in revenue from the recreational side and supports many local businesses and helps local families. In the 70's Fortescue was known as the weakfish capital of NJ. The economy there and the businesses that benefitted from fishing were booming. Once the weakfish population crashed in the Delaware, that area started to decline.
These things need to be considered as part of the big picture. For that reason the striper should be the main focus of any committee. Bunker are important, but as was mentioned here, even if you vastly increased the amount of bunker, you would still have less stripers. We need to concentrate on the stripers first.

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Originally Posted by jigfreak

kill all the bunker. 90% of the surf and boat guy would stop fishing because they don't know how to tie their shoes without a piece of bunker on the hook. Simple solution, bass saved.

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amen!