MEDIA ADVISORY and DAYBOOK ITEM

For Wednesday, May 21, 2008

INDUSTRIAL HERRING TRAWLERS THREATEN NEW ENGLAND'S WATERS

New report exposes risk posed by mismanagement of large-scale fleet, proposes solutions

PORTLAND, MAINE - A report to be released Wednesday by the Herring Alliance (www.herringalliance.org) exposes a threat to New England's coastal waters that has gone largely unnoticed in recent decades: the mismanagement of the commercial Atlantic herring industry. The report, "Out of Balance: Industrial Fishing and the Threat to Our Ocean," details the pivotal role Atlantic herring play in the region's ecosystem and economy and charts the growth of the industrial-scale herring fleet that jeopardizes the health of this key resource.

WHAT:

Representatives from the Herring Alliance, Earthjustice and the National Coalition for Marine Conservation will host a press conference to discuss the report's findings and outline proposed solutions.

WHEN:

Wednesday, May 21, 10 a.m. EDT

WHO:

Peter Baker, Director, Herring Alliance

Roger Fleming, Attorney, Earthjustice

Pam Lyons Gromen, Executive Director, National Coalition for Marine Conservation

WHERE:

Maine State Pier (located at the Casco Bay Lines Ferry Terminal)

55 Commercial Street

Portland, ME 04101

DIRECTIONS:

From points north: Take I-295 S toward Portland. Take exit 7 for US-1A.

Turn left at Commercial Street. Right at Casco Bay Municipal Ferry Terminal.

From points south: Take I-95 N toward Portland. Take exit 44 onto !-295 N toward downtown Portland. Take Exit 4 for US-1 N toward Waterfront/Portland. Right at W Commercial Street. Right at Casco Bay Municipal Ferry Terminal.

CONTACTS:

Dave Bard - 202.486.4426, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Kathleen Sutcliffe - 202.667.4500, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

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