lowwall
10-09-2007, 11:42 AM
Guys,
I have been following this on another baord, We know that good hering stocks have a positive impact on our costal rivers with trout populations (as well as keeping our Bass Fat and Happy). Lets do something to slow help this Herring fishery .
Here is a sample letter and contact Info.
Mike
"There are a lot of things that are wrong with the way herring are managed. The letter asks for the most important ones, including a year-round, coast-wide 50 mile Buffer zone. As you know, right now the inshore GOM has a seasonal Buffer, but we would like to see all of New England have such a buffer, and for 12 months a year. There are other important changes needed, and these are mentioned in the letter.
ALL you need to do is copy one of the two sample letters below, paste it into an email and email it to Paul Howard, executive director of the Council. Also, if you can, CC it to Joan O'Leary.
*Simply copy the text of one of the letters, and fill in your name and where you are from. Charter Captains, I would use the Commercial letter and substitute 'Charter Captain' for 'Commercial Fisherman' *
Paul's email is: Phoward@nefmc.org
Joan's email is: JOleary@nefmc.org
If you would rather fax the email, copy/paste the letter into a word document and then fax to teh Council at: 978-465-3116
Recreational Sample Letter:
Paul Howard, Executive Director
New England Fishery Management Council
50 Water Street, Mill 2
Newburyport, MA 01950
Dear Captain Howard,
My name is ************, I am a recreational fisherman from ***********. I am writing you to show my support for the New England Fishery Management Council making herring a priority in 2008. Action must be taken now to fix the numerous problems with the management system in the herring fishery. The herring stocks are far too important to be managed in such an ineffective system.
The stocks that the recreational sector relies on are all affected by the midwater herring trawlers. Whether it be striped bass, bluefin tuna, groundfish, mackerel, or any recreationally-valuable stock, all rely on herring. Furthermore, all of these species are taken as bycatch in the midwater trawl fishery. Needless to say, herring management affects the large recreational fishing sector.
Right now, herring management is not working. We do not have a good handle on how many fish are landed, in no small part because of the lack of observers and the fact that midwater trawlers can dump fish without having to report it. And we believe that as long as midwater trawling is allowed inshore, that things will continue to spiral downwards off our coasts.
Th Council should make herring a priority in 2008 and begin an action that included the following:
• A mandatory weighmaster system whenever midwater trawlers unload that reports catch and bycatch on a real-time basis.
• In addition to the seasonal Area 1A buffer, an inshore buffer zone that keeps midwater trawlers at least 50 miles from shore year-round
• Mandatory industry-funded observer coverage for midwater trawlers and USAPs
• Requirements to bring all fish aboard for sampling (no dumping of bags at sea)
All recreational fishermen rely on the proper management of herring and it is time for you as managers to do more to ensure that herring are here for us here now and in the future. We cannot afford to continue to mismanage this resource.
Thanks for your time,
(((((ADD NAME HERE))))))
I have been following this on another baord, We know that good hering stocks have a positive impact on our costal rivers with trout populations (as well as keeping our Bass Fat and Happy). Lets do something to slow help this Herring fishery .
Here is a sample letter and contact Info.
Mike
"There are a lot of things that are wrong with the way herring are managed. The letter asks for the most important ones, including a year-round, coast-wide 50 mile Buffer zone. As you know, right now the inshore GOM has a seasonal Buffer, but we would like to see all of New England have such a buffer, and for 12 months a year. There are other important changes needed, and these are mentioned in the letter.
ALL you need to do is copy one of the two sample letters below, paste it into an email and email it to Paul Howard, executive director of the Council. Also, if you can, CC it to Joan O'Leary.
*Simply copy the text of one of the letters, and fill in your name and where you are from. Charter Captains, I would use the Commercial letter and substitute 'Charter Captain' for 'Commercial Fisherman' *
Paul's email is: Phoward@nefmc.org
Joan's email is: JOleary@nefmc.org
If you would rather fax the email, copy/paste the letter into a word document and then fax to teh Council at: 978-465-3116
Recreational Sample Letter:
Paul Howard, Executive Director
New England Fishery Management Council
50 Water Street, Mill 2
Newburyport, MA 01950
Dear Captain Howard,
My name is ************, I am a recreational fisherman from ***********. I am writing you to show my support for the New England Fishery Management Council making herring a priority in 2008. Action must be taken now to fix the numerous problems with the management system in the herring fishery. The herring stocks are far too important to be managed in such an ineffective system.
The stocks that the recreational sector relies on are all affected by the midwater herring trawlers. Whether it be striped bass, bluefin tuna, groundfish, mackerel, or any recreationally-valuable stock, all rely on herring. Furthermore, all of these species are taken as bycatch in the midwater trawl fishery. Needless to say, herring management affects the large recreational fishing sector.
Right now, herring management is not working. We do not have a good handle on how many fish are landed, in no small part because of the lack of observers and the fact that midwater trawlers can dump fish without having to report it. And we believe that as long as midwater trawling is allowed inshore, that things will continue to spiral downwards off our coasts.
Th Council should make herring a priority in 2008 and begin an action that included the following:
• A mandatory weighmaster system whenever midwater trawlers unload that reports catch and bycatch on a real-time basis.
• In addition to the seasonal Area 1A buffer, an inshore buffer zone that keeps midwater trawlers at least 50 miles from shore year-round
• Mandatory industry-funded observer coverage for midwater trawlers and USAPs
• Requirements to bring all fish aboard for sampling (no dumping of bags at sea)
All recreational fishermen rely on the proper management of herring and it is time for you as managers to do more to ensure that herring are here for us here now and in the future. We cannot afford to continue to mismanage this resource.
Thanks for your time,
(((((ADD NAME HERE))))))