Now Is The Time To Bunker Down Against Reduction FishingRecreational Fishing Alliance
Jim Hutchinson, Jr. / 888-564-6732
December 12, 2012
On Friday December 14 the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) is
holding a special one-day meeting to make final decisions on Draft Amendment 2
to the Atlantic Menhaden Fishery Management Plan. The meeting will be held at the
Best Western Plus Hotel and Conference Center, Chesapeake Room, 5625 O'Donnell Street,
Baltimore, Maryland; phone number is 410-633-9500. Public comment period is scheduled
to begin at 8:40am.
According to a review of the over 1,200-page meeting materials document (which can
be found at
www.asmfc.org,
over 114,000 public comments were submitted and the overwhelming majority are calling
for significant reforms in menhaden fishing.
Amongst the critical questions RFA has been asking for years that will be answered
at this meeting are:
1. Will ASMFC end what RFA has claimed for many years; massive reduction fishing
has resulted in overfishing of menhaden? Will ASMFC finally bring an end to this
overfishing of what is known as "The Most Important Fish In The Sea?" RFA is calling
for immediate cuts in reduction fishing and demands overfishing end within three
years.
2. Will ASMFC finally bring Menhaden management into modern times and set an overall
coastwide quota or Total Allowable Catch (TAC) on menhaden fishing?
3. Will ASMFC PROTECT OUR BAIT SUPPLY by setting a fair and reasonable allocation
of this needed forage/bait fish? Currently the management approach has allowed
the industrial reduction fishing industry to dominate landings by accounting for
80% of total fishing mortality. What ASMFC refers to as the Bait Harvesters is
more accurately described as what has been left for the rest of the east coast's
commerical & recreational stakeholders not to mention the natural predator fish
we love to catch. RFA is calling for a fair and reasonable allocation of the total
coastal catch that gives preference to the importance of the bait fishery as well
as the predatory fish that are critical to the recreational sector.
WE NEED RFA MEMBERS TO ATTEND!!! The corporate managers of Omega Protein have notified
ASMFC Staff that they are sending two busses of their employees to the meeting.
Recreational organizations of all perspectives are rallying the troops from New
England to Florida and its time to remind the ASMFC that RFA has been in this fight
for over a decade. The political fisheries management lines have been drawn and
it is time to "BUNKER DOWN."
Please consider taking one day to attend this meeting.
Attached you will find the
RFA official comment document.
RFA has been working with many groups like our long time friends at Maryland Saltwater
Sportsmen's Association under the banner of Save Menhaden. Wearing your RFA LOGO
will gain you entrance to a complimentary Save Menhaden "Bunker Bunker" where coffee
and refreshments will be available all day for Save Menhaden affiliated members.
For more information, call the RFA headquarters at 888-JOIN RFA (564-6732).
See RFA's latest ASMFC comments at:
http://www.joinrfa.org/Press/RFAMenhaden_111612.pdf.
About Recreational Fishing Alliance
The Recreational Fishing Alliance is a national, grassroots political action organization
representing recreational fishermen and the recreational fishing industry on marine
fisheries issues. The RFA Mission is to safeguard the rights of saltwater anglers,
protect marine, boat and tackle industry jobs, and ensure the long-term sustainability
of our Nation's saltwater fisheries. For more information, call 888-JOIN-RFA or
visit www.joinrfa.org.
