Help Save Menhaden!
Last year, East Coast fishery managers- responding to a plea for action by more than 90,000 people like you-committed to advancing new protections for Atlantic menhaden, (also known as pogies or bunker). Now we need your help to make sure these plans become real improvements on the water.
The menhaden reduction fishery is a major operation dominated by a single company in Chesapeake Bay.
Menhaden populations have plummeted 90 percent over the past 25 years and remain at an all-time low—just 10 percent of historic levels. Because these small fish are prey for larger animals, this decline threatens to disrupt coastal and marine food webs and affect the thousands of fishing, whale-watching, and bird-watching businesses that menhaden help support.
We need to leave more menhaden in the ocean to promote their recovery. There is no limit on the total amount of these fish that can be caught at sea. Every year, hundreds of millions of them are ground up to make fertilizer; fish meal for farm animals, pets, and aquaculture; and oil for dietary supplements.
On Dec. 14, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission will make decisions that are critical to the recovery of Atlantic menhaden and the ocean wildlife that depends on them for food. Let the commission know that it’s time to bring the menhaden fishery into the 21st century.
Contact information for ASMFC is below, or you can go to the HERRING ALLIANCE website and use the pre-formatted e-mail letter that makes it easy to send to fisheries managers.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD CLOSES ON NOVEMBER 16.
Snag a pogy to us e for bait and you’re almost sure to hook-up with a big bass or bluefish.
From ASMFC:
The public is encouraged to submit comments regarding this document during the public comment period. Comments must be received by
5:00 PM (EST) on November 16, 2012.
Regardless of when they were sent, comments received after that time will not be included in the official record.
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:
Email: mwaine@asmfc.org
(Subject: Amend 2)
Mail: Mike Waine
Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission
1050 N. Highland Street, Suite 200 A-N
Arlington VA. 22201
Phone: (703) 842-0740
Fax: (703) 842-0741
save the bunker
thanks for the alert, but would have been helpful if it was posted with more lead time! got to get the word out!