twofinbluna
10-07-2007, 09:21 PM
Hey guys,
At the upcoming Novemeber NEFMC meeting they will be setting their "priorities" for 2008. Each year, the Council decides early on what species they will or will not address over the coming year. We need them to make herring a priority in Novemeber for next year or else we will have to go a whole year, at least, before being able to get any more changes in this fishery. (The Council took herring off the agenda for this current year, that is why we have not been able to get anything done). The only way we will get the Council to do this is if we all speak up and show our support.
There are a lot of things that are wrong with the way herring are managed. The letter asks for the most important ones, including a year-round, coast-wide 50 mile Buffer zone. As you know, right now the inshore GOM has a seasonal Buffer, but we would like to see all of New England have such a buffer, and for 12 months a year. There are other important changes needed, and these are mentioned in the letter.
ALL you need to do is copy one of the two sample letters below, paste it into an email and email it to Paul Howard, executive director of the Council. Also, if you can, CC it to Joan O'Leary.
*Simply copy the text of one of the letters, and fill in your name and where you are from. Charter Captains, I would use the Commercial letter and substitute 'Charter Captain' for 'Commercial Fisherman' *
Paul's email is: Phoward@nefmc.org
Joan's email is: JOleary@nefmc.org
If you would rather fax the email, copy/paste the letter into a word document and then fax to teh Council at: 978-465-3116
Recreational Sample Letter:
Paul Howard, Executive Director
New England Fishery Management Council
50 Water Street, Mill 2
Newburyport, MA 01950
Dear Captain Howard,
My name is ************, I am a recreational fisherman from ***********. I am writing you to show my support for the New England Fishery Management Council making herring a priority in 2008. Action must be taken now to fix the numerous problems with the management system in the herring fishery. The herring stocks are far too important to be managed in such an ineffective system.
The stocks that the recreational sector relies on are all affected by the midwater herring trawlers. Whether it be striped bass, bluefin tuna, groundfish, mackerel, or any recreationally-valuable stock, all rely on herring. Furthermore, all of these species are taken as bycatch in the midwater trawl fishery. Needless to say, herring management affects the large recreational fishing sector.
Right now, herring management is not working. We do not have a good handle on how many fish are landed, in no small part because of the lack of observers and the fact that midwater trawlers can dump fish without having to report it. And we believe that as long as midwater trawling is allowed inshore, that things will continue to spiral downwards off our coasts.
Th Council should make herring a priority in 2008 and begin an action that included the following:
• A mandatory weighmaster system whenever midwater trawlers unload that reports catch and bycatch on a real-time basis.
• In addition to the seasonal Area 1A buffer, an inshore buffer zone that keeps midwater trawlers at least 50 miles from shore year-round
• Mandatory industry-funded observer coverage for midwater trawlers and USAPs
• Requirements to bring all fish aboard for sampling (no dumping of bags at sea)
All recreational fishermen rely on the proper management of herring and it is time for you as managers to do more to ensure that herring are here for us here now and in the future. We cannot afford to continue to mismanage this resource.
Thanks for your time,
(((((ADD NAME HERE))))))
Commercial Sample Letter
Paul Howard, Executive Director
New England Fishery Management Council
50 Water Street, Mill 2
Newburyport, MA 01950
Dear Captain Howard,
My name is *****, I am a commercial fisherman from ******* and am writing to you today to encourage the New England Fishery Management Council to make herring a priority in 2008. As a fisherman, my livelihood depends on healthy herring stocks. Herring is the backbone of the ecosystem and so we all rely on the managers to properly manage the herring fishery.
Currently, this fishery is not being managed properly. The landings system is clearly ineffective: landings are estimated and often untimely. Compounding that problem is the fact that midwater trawlers can dump bags of fish (whether it be herring or other regulated species) without even reporting it. There is also a lack of monitoring, including a meager percentage of observer coverage. Making matters worse, midwater trawlers are still allowed to fish only miles from the coast, disrupting the inshore ecosystem and creating massive gear conflicts.
To correct these glaring problems, I strongly encourage you and the Council to make herring a priority in 2008 and to initiate a herring action as soon as possible. The action should include:
• A mandatory weighmaster system whenever midwater trawlers unload that reports catch and bycatch on a real-time basis.
• In addition to the seasonal Area 1A buffer, an inshore buffer zone that keeps midwater trawlers at least 50 miles from shore year-round
• Mandatory industry-funded observer coverage for midwater trawlers and USAPs
• Requirements to bring all fish aboard for sampling (no dumping of bags at sea)
We have allowed the midwater trawl fleet to cause a lot of damage and its time that the managers address the problem. As the body in charge of herring management, it is of utmost importance that you act now before it is too late.
Thanks for your time
(((((((((((((Add your name Here))))))))))))))))
At the upcoming Novemeber NEFMC meeting they will be setting their "priorities" for 2008. Each year, the Council decides early on what species they will or will not address over the coming year. We need them to make herring a priority in Novemeber for next year or else we will have to go a whole year, at least, before being able to get any more changes in this fishery. (The Council took herring off the agenda for this current year, that is why we have not been able to get anything done). The only way we will get the Council to do this is if we all speak up and show our support.
There are a lot of things that are wrong with the way herring are managed. The letter asks for the most important ones, including a year-round, coast-wide 50 mile Buffer zone. As you know, right now the inshore GOM has a seasonal Buffer, but we would like to see all of New England have such a buffer, and for 12 months a year. There are other important changes needed, and these are mentioned in the letter.
ALL you need to do is copy one of the two sample letters below, paste it into an email and email it to Paul Howard, executive director of the Council. Also, if you can, CC it to Joan O'Leary.
*Simply copy the text of one of the letters, and fill in your name and where you are from. Charter Captains, I would use the Commercial letter and substitute 'Charter Captain' for 'Commercial Fisherman' *
Paul's email is: Phoward@nefmc.org
Joan's email is: JOleary@nefmc.org
If you would rather fax the email, copy/paste the letter into a word document and then fax to teh Council at: 978-465-3116
Recreational Sample Letter:
Paul Howard, Executive Director
New England Fishery Management Council
50 Water Street, Mill 2
Newburyport, MA 01950
Dear Captain Howard,
My name is ************, I am a recreational fisherman from ***********. I am writing you to show my support for the New England Fishery Management Council making herring a priority in 2008. Action must be taken now to fix the numerous problems with the management system in the herring fishery. The herring stocks are far too important to be managed in such an ineffective system.
The stocks that the recreational sector relies on are all affected by the midwater herring trawlers. Whether it be striped bass, bluefin tuna, groundfish, mackerel, or any recreationally-valuable stock, all rely on herring. Furthermore, all of these species are taken as bycatch in the midwater trawl fishery. Needless to say, herring management affects the large recreational fishing sector.
Right now, herring management is not working. We do not have a good handle on how many fish are landed, in no small part because of the lack of observers and the fact that midwater trawlers can dump fish without having to report it. And we believe that as long as midwater trawling is allowed inshore, that things will continue to spiral downwards off our coasts.
Th Council should make herring a priority in 2008 and begin an action that included the following:
• A mandatory weighmaster system whenever midwater trawlers unload that reports catch and bycatch on a real-time basis.
• In addition to the seasonal Area 1A buffer, an inshore buffer zone that keeps midwater trawlers at least 50 miles from shore year-round
• Mandatory industry-funded observer coverage for midwater trawlers and USAPs
• Requirements to bring all fish aboard for sampling (no dumping of bags at sea)
All recreational fishermen rely on the proper management of herring and it is time for you as managers to do more to ensure that herring are here for us here now and in the future. We cannot afford to continue to mismanage this resource.
Thanks for your time,
(((((ADD NAME HERE))))))
Commercial Sample Letter
Paul Howard, Executive Director
New England Fishery Management Council
50 Water Street, Mill 2
Newburyport, MA 01950
Dear Captain Howard,
My name is *****, I am a commercial fisherman from ******* and am writing to you today to encourage the New England Fishery Management Council to make herring a priority in 2008. As a fisherman, my livelihood depends on healthy herring stocks. Herring is the backbone of the ecosystem and so we all rely on the managers to properly manage the herring fishery.
Currently, this fishery is not being managed properly. The landings system is clearly ineffective: landings are estimated and often untimely. Compounding that problem is the fact that midwater trawlers can dump bags of fish (whether it be herring or other regulated species) without even reporting it. There is also a lack of monitoring, including a meager percentage of observer coverage. Making matters worse, midwater trawlers are still allowed to fish only miles from the coast, disrupting the inshore ecosystem and creating massive gear conflicts.
To correct these glaring problems, I strongly encourage you and the Council to make herring a priority in 2008 and to initiate a herring action as soon as possible. The action should include:
• A mandatory weighmaster system whenever midwater trawlers unload that reports catch and bycatch on a real-time basis.
• In addition to the seasonal Area 1A buffer, an inshore buffer zone that keeps midwater trawlers at least 50 miles from shore year-round
• Mandatory industry-funded observer coverage for midwater trawlers and USAPs
• Requirements to bring all fish aboard for sampling (no dumping of bags at sea)
We have allowed the midwater trawl fleet to cause a lot of damage and its time that the managers address the problem. As the body in charge of herring management, it is of utmost importance that you act now before it is too late.
Thanks for your time
(((((((((((((Add your name Here))))))))))))))))