| Proposed River Herring and Shad Protections Clear First Hurdle |
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Management for Threatened Fish in Mid-Atlantic Scheduled for Public Comment
GALLOWAY, N.J. (Oct. 12, 2011)—Peter Baker, director of the Pew Environment Group's Northeast Fisheries Program and the Herring Alliance, issued the following statement today in response to the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s (MAFMC) decision to seek public input on a set of proposed measures to be considered in Amendment 14 to the Atlantic Mackerel, Squid and Butterfish Fishery Management Plan. “We welcome the Council’s decision to advance important proposals for monitoring and reducing the number of shad and river herring—the alewife and blueback herring species—that are caught in the Atlantic Mackerel, Squid and Butterfish Fishery.“In moving all of these proposals, known as Amendment 14, to public comment, the council has sent a clear message that threatened species should not be fished beyond the point of no return. The migrations of alewives, bluebacks and shad have been a part of our cultural traditions since the nation’s founding. We need to value these fish so future generations can enjoy them too, not just read about them in history books. “Significantly, the council included options to add river herring and shad to the mackerel and squid fishery management plan. This fishery plays a major role in the decline of river herring and shad—overall, up to 10 million are killed every year along the East Coast. “The proposal to require industrial-scale vessels to carry fishing observers on all trips and to prohibit dumping or hiding dead catch before it is examined by the observer will provide solid data on everything that is caught in the nets, not just what is targeted. Further, if the council caps the total amount of river herring and shad hauled in each year and discourages fishing in areas where these species are highly concentrated, this catch could be lowered to a reasonable amount.” # # # Media contact: Dan Klotz, 347-307-2866,
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River herring video and animation: River Herring—Recreational fishermen discuss the plight of this species in the northeastern United States. The Tip of the Iceberg—Troubling loopholes in the herring fishery prevent onboard observers from accurately sampling bycatch, including marine mammals. Fact Sheets: Atlantic Herring—This fish is one of the most important in New England and a critical part of the northwestern Atlantic ecosystem. Bycatch and Monitoring—Bycatch, the unintended capture of unwanted fish and other animals, is a growing concern in the Atlantic herring fishery. History of a Fishery—Atlantic herring have been caught off New England for centuries. But the fishery has recently changed, becoming increasingly industrial. River Herring—Populations of alewives and bluebacks are in serious decline along the Atlantic Coast and face numerous threats. The Herring Alliance is a coalition of environmental organizations that includes more than 40 groups dedicated to restoring ocean wildlife and marine ecosystems from North Carolina to Maine by reforming the management of important fish species such as Atlantic (or sea) herring. |
