Recent decisions in lawsuits against the federal government have led some to conclude that federal fishery regulators are not doing enough to verify that herring boats are accurately reporting what they catch.

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC) issued a statement acknowledging public concern about the treatment of comments received during the scoping process for the MAFMC’s Atlantic Mackerel, Squid and Butterfish FMP.

In all, the Herring Alliance petition generated over 1,700 comments! Thanks to all that participated in this important public process. We'll keep you posted on new ways you can get involved in our campaign to protect river herring from bycatch in the Atlantic trawl fleet.

Update: Thanks to all who submitted comments! Our supporters generated 1,464 letters to the MAFMC.

Sign our latest petition. Urge the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council to protect vulnerable populations of river herring and shad from being caught as bycatch in industrial-scale trawl fisheries.

The comment period is only open through Friday, July 9 so please act now. Your letter can make a difference.

Paul Earnshaw, president of the Buckeye Brook Coalition, has issued an appeal to members and those interested in preserving the brook's herring run to support regulations to measure the numbers of the fish caught by offshore trawlers.