New year, new chance for fishery managers to get it right

Peter Baker

The new year has arrived, and the Herring Alliance is in full swing as we approach an important public meeting in Portsmouth, N.H., on Wednesday, January 26. We remain focused on Amendment 5 to the Atlantic herring fishery management plan, which has been under development for several years. I hope that 2011 will see the completion of a strong plan to reduce the impacts of the industrial herring midwater trawl fleet on New England’s sensitive marine ecosystem.

On January 26, the New England Fishery Management Council will continue to craft specific measures to include in Amendment 5. You may remember that a vote was scheduled for last September, however, the Council decided to send Amendment 5 back to the herring committee for further revisions. Since then, we have been working with the committee to develop an improved range of alternatives to be presented to the full Council.

In our view, the amendment must reform management of the herring fishery to include:

-  A bycatch cap on river herring that puts a limit on the amount of river herring the Atlantic herring fleet can catch.

-  100 percent monitoring of herring midwater trawlers with federal observers onboard every industrial trawler.

-  A prohibition on industrial trawling in areas established for the recovery of groundfish populations.

-  Protections for spawning Atlantic herring that will ensure healthy populations for the future.

-  Area closures during critical times of the year to protect river herring and spawning Atlantic herring and to reduce bycatch of other vulnerable species.

You can help by signing our letter to the Council asking for a bycatch cap on river herring. If you live in New England, please consider attending the public meeting in N.H. on January 26 to lend your voice. Email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to get more information.

Thanks for your support in 2010. I look forward to working together in 2011 to improve the management of our shared marine resources!

Peter Baker is director of the Herring Alliance and the manager of the Pew Environment Group’s New England Fisheries Campaigns.

1 Response(s)
Therese Steinlauf
on January 13, 2011

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I live in California so attending the public meeting is not an option. However, I heartily support your efforts. The plight of fish in NH ultimately affects all of us. Our World is just not that big. smilies/cry.gif
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