Lucky
05-20-2005, 09:29 AM
I've heard a lot of guys on this site discuss the issue of conserving the forage base of the fish that frequent our waters...well, here's our chance to get together and do soemthing to show our opion and have our voice heard. For those of you that don't know, the reduction fishery for Menhaden out of the chesapeke and virginia is unregulated...they can take as much as they can catch. the fish are in trouble and it's time to protect them.
Now's the time...don't sit back any longer.
Dear Sir,
Good Day! I am writing you because you have contacted Menhaden Matter in the past and asked the question, “What can I do to help?” Well now is your chance. At this point I must apologize for not contacting you sooner, but frankly our efforts have been largely focused on the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and we had not developed a public component until now.
As you may well know, the Menhaden Board of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission has just recently sent out for public comment interim management options for Atlantic Menhaden in the Chesapeake Bay while an ecosystem based study is conducted. We don’t have the exact dates as of yet, but the comment period will roughly begin June 1st and continue through July 15th. In addition to the comment period 9 states along the coast will hold public hearings; we believe those will take place between June 27th and July 14th.
Here is how you can help! Menhaden Matter is planning on conducting a number of activities during the public comment period regarding the interim management of Atlantic menhaden. More specifically we plan to:
o Generate comments in each target state
o Turnout anglers, conservationist and environmentalists to public hearings
o Assist in finding key people to testify at hearings
o Conducting various press activities using the hearings as a focal point
Please let me know if you would like to participate in any of the following. It may be as easy as asking 25 friends to sign postcards, or recruiting 10 of your fishing buddies to show up at the public hearings and speak out against the industrial harvest of menhaden. Or if you know any scientists or state fisheries managers who support a common sense approach to the management of menhaden; ask them to bring their knowledge and expertise to the hearings!
During the most recent meeting of the ASMFC, industry representatives asked the board to open state waters that are currently closed to the industrial fleet. The board flatly rejected this notion and we can only expect it will be a recurring theme at the public hearings. States scheduled to hold public hearings include: Maine, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina. The non-state member is the Potomac River Fisheries Commission and will most likely hold their hearing at their offices in Virginia.
Please feel free to contact me by phone or email if you have any questions regarding our organization or the ASMFC process during this open comment period. Please log on to our website at www.menhadenmatter.org and please respond to this email at info@menhadenmatter.org. Thanks and I look forward to hearing from you!
Todd Keller
Campaign Director
Menhaden Matter
202-887-8835
Now's the time...don't sit back any longer.
Dear Sir,
Good Day! I am writing you because you have contacted Menhaden Matter in the past and asked the question, “What can I do to help?” Well now is your chance. At this point I must apologize for not contacting you sooner, but frankly our efforts have been largely focused on the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and we had not developed a public component until now.
As you may well know, the Menhaden Board of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission has just recently sent out for public comment interim management options for Atlantic Menhaden in the Chesapeake Bay while an ecosystem based study is conducted. We don’t have the exact dates as of yet, but the comment period will roughly begin June 1st and continue through July 15th. In addition to the comment period 9 states along the coast will hold public hearings; we believe those will take place between June 27th and July 14th.
Here is how you can help! Menhaden Matter is planning on conducting a number of activities during the public comment period regarding the interim management of Atlantic menhaden. More specifically we plan to:
o Generate comments in each target state
o Turnout anglers, conservationist and environmentalists to public hearings
o Assist in finding key people to testify at hearings
o Conducting various press activities using the hearings as a focal point
Please let me know if you would like to participate in any of the following. It may be as easy as asking 25 friends to sign postcards, or recruiting 10 of your fishing buddies to show up at the public hearings and speak out against the industrial harvest of menhaden. Or if you know any scientists or state fisheries managers who support a common sense approach to the management of menhaden; ask them to bring their knowledge and expertise to the hearings!
During the most recent meeting of the ASMFC, industry representatives asked the board to open state waters that are currently closed to the industrial fleet. The board flatly rejected this notion and we can only expect it will be a recurring theme at the public hearings. States scheduled to hold public hearings include: Maine, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina. The non-state member is the Potomac River Fisheries Commission and will most likely hold their hearing at their offices in Virginia.
Please feel free to contact me by phone or email if you have any questions regarding our organization or the ASMFC process during this open comment period. Please log on to our website at www.menhadenmatter.org and please respond to this email at info@menhadenmatter.org. Thanks and I look forward to hearing from you!
Todd Keller
Campaign Director
Menhaden Matter
202-887-8835