The following is the text of a news release from the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:
Plese note that this press release revises the September 9, 2008 press release by adding FLFWCC's hearing information and changing MD DNR's hearing date from the October 6th to the 1st. All other information remains the same.
American Eel Draft Addendum II Approved for Public Comment
States Schedule Hearings for September and Early October
Washington, DC - The Commission's American Eel Management Board has approved the release of Draft Addendum II to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for American Eel for public comment. The Draft Addendum proposes a number of management options to facilitate an increase in the number of adult American eel (also known as silver eel) that are able to out-migrate to the ocean and spawn. Specific options include gear and size restrictions, seasonal closures, and recommendations to protect the upstream and downstream migration of American eel.
Atlantic coastal states have scheduled their hearings to gather public comment on the Draft Addendum. The dates, times, and locations of the scheduled meetings follow:
Maine Department of Marine Resources
September 25, 2008; 6:00PM
Natural Resources Service Center
(Behind Maine Department of Marine Resources)
6 Beech Street
Hallowell, Maine
Contact: Terry Stockwell at (207) 624-6553
September 29, 2008; 6:00PM
Ellsworth City Hall (Auditorium)
1 City Hall Plaza
Ellsworth, Maine
Contact: George Lapointe at (207) 624-6553
New Hampshire Fish and Game
October 15, 2008; 7:00 PM
Urban Forestry Center
45 Elwyn Road
Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Contact: Doug Grout at (603) 868-1096
Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection
September 24, 2008; 7:00 PM
DEP Marine Fisheries Office
333 Ferry Road
Old Lyme, Connecticut
Contact: David Simpson at (860) 434-6043
New York Dept. of Environmental Conservation
September 30, 2008; 6:00 PM
Bureau of Marine Resources Headquarters
205 North Belle Mead Road, Suite 1
East Setauket, New York
Contact: Steve Heins at (631) 444-0433
New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife
October 7, 2008; 8:00 PM
Division of Fish and Wildlife
Marine Enforcement Office
Route 9, Mile Post 51
Port Republic, New Jersey
Contact: Tom McCloy at (609) 292-7794
Delaware Dept. of Natural Resources and Environmental Control
October 6, 2008; 7:00 PM
Richardson and Robbins Building Auditorium
89 Kings Highway
Dover, Delaware
Contact: Roy Miller (302) 739-9914
Maryland Dept. of Natural Resources
October 1, 2008; 6:00 PM
Tawes State Office Building
C-1 Conference Room
Annapolis, Maryland
Contact: Keith Whiteford at (410) 643-6785
Virginia Marine Resources Commission
September 17, 6:00 PM
2600 Washington Ave, 4th Floor
Newport News, Virginia
Contact: Jack Travelstead at (757) 247-2247
Potomac River Fisheries Commission
September 23, 2008; 6:30 PM
222 Taylor Street
Colonial Beach, Virginia
Contact: A.C. Carpenter at (804) 224-7148
North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries
October 9, 2008; 6:00 PM
943 Washington Square Mall
Washington, North Carolina
Contact: Jim Vasslides at (252) 948-3878
South Carolina Dept. of Natural Resources
October 14, 2008; 6:00 PM
Santee-Cooper Auditorium
1 Riverwood Drive
Monks Corner, South Carolina
Contact: Bill Post at (843) 953-9821
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
October 9, 2008; 6:00 PM
St. Johns River Water Management District
4049 Reid Street (Hwy 100 West)
Palatka, Floria
Contact: Bill Sharp at (850) 487-0580
The Board initiated the Addendum due to continued concern for the American eel population. While the status of the stock is uncertain, the latest stock assessment information indicates the abundance of yellow eel (a juvenile life-stage of the American eel) has declined in the last two decades and the stock is at or near low levels. Further, relative abundance is likely to continue to decline unless mortality decreases and/or recruitment increases. As such, the primary management objective of the Draft Addendum is to facilitate escapement of silver eel on their spawning migration with the intent of halting any further declines in juvenile recruitment and eel abundance.
Fishermen and other interested groups are encouraged to provide input on the Draft Addendum, either through attending public hearings or providing written comments. The Draft Addendum will be available on September 11, 2008, copies can be obtained by contacting the Commission at (202) 289-6400 or via the Commission's website at
www.asmfc.org under Breaking News. Public comment will be accepted until 5:00 PM on October 16, 2008 and should be forwarded to Kate Taylor, American Eel FMP Coordinator, 1444 'Eye' Street, NW, Sixth Floor, Washington, DC 20005; (202) 289-6051 (FAX) or at comments@asmfc.org (Subject line: American Eel). For more information, please contact Kate Taylor at (202) 289-6400 or ktaylor@asmfc.org.
