Letter to Dr. Hogarth

[teamtuna]

just got this letter that is being sent to Bill Hogarth.


Bill:

I have confirmed through personal conversations with two tuna captains with direct observation of a massive dumping of dead herring, whale codfish, haddock and, at least, one seal on the Northern End of Jeffries Ledge on July 19 in the late afternoon. In my conversations with the reporting captains, I insisted there be no embellishment in their description of the sighting of the dumped fish.

The dead fish slick was seen to extend for at least 1 mile and was estimated to be a minimum of 100 yards across. The captains reported the numbers of discarded cod and haddock visible was very substantial. Both captains reported seeing two midwater trawl vessels in the immediate area treading water. Neither captain actually witnessed the dumping of the catch so it is not definitively known if the two midwater boats seen were the offending vessels. I have the name of the vessels seen in the immediate area.

One of the tuna captains used a shrimp basket to quickly collect two fish boxes (i.e. 200 lbs.) of bait and several of the whale cod from the slick for personal use. He reported the cod to be very fresh so the dumping most likely occurred earlier that day. Both Captains reported they could not cross the slick for fear of clogging strainers with density of floating herring. Tuna fishermen including these two captains have sighted two dead whales (one small humback and one minke whale) in the same area, although one of the whales was in such poor shape it was obvious that it was in the water prior to this recent dumping according to one of the captains.

We suspect (and many in the herring industry anticipated) that with the expiration of the emergency action authorizing landings of groundfish bycatch and the delay of implementation of Framework 43, that these kind of dumping incidents will increase especially with bait shortages and rising bait prices. It is highly unlikely that the herring mortality in the discards is being reported given the dramatic drop in observer coverage because of NMFS funding problems.

I cannot convey to you the outrage and disgust of tuna fishermen and groundfish fishermen over this situation. There is very little tuna effort this summer because most of the General and Harpoon category fishermen do not believe there is adequate forage in the Gulf of Maine to hold visiting giant tunas. Rising fuel cost and out-of-control dogfish abundance is also contributing to a lack of effort.

I am copying the State Directors on this note with the hope that some will try and investigate this recent dumping and do all in their power to prevent further incidents. I have also asked East Coast Tuna fish dealers to provide free disposable cameras to the few boats trying to fish to document additional dumping incidents.

What can NMFS do to correct this waste and damage to the discrete coastal herring stock from continuing now? Recent NMFS trawl surveys are showing a 50% decline in coastal herring abundance confirming our reports that herring in the Gulf of Maine are in trouble. At a minimum, can NMFS redeploy observers to 100% of the herring midwater fleet attempting to fish in Area 1A until the Framework action is implemented authorizing landings of groundfish bycatch?

I hope NMFS will recognize the seriousness of this situation.

Rich Ruais
East Coast Tuna Association
July 20, 2006

[Bert Rodgers]

Thanks,
Unfortunately we should not hold our collective breath waiting for any responsable action since obviosly the fix is in at the NMFS.

Bert

[Deep C]

Just keep tossing everything their way. I'm on a campaing from the billfish end to stop pissing resouces away on proposals that only serve to hurt us and do nothing for the stocks. Send a copy to your congressman and senator too. They need to feel the heat from us about their agency failing and light a burner under their ass...

[Sterling]

Good job on the letter and thanks for sharing it. I strongly believe that the recreational fleet is one of the best supporters of regulations and deterrants to abuse. As the NMFS beats down and out the recreational angler there will be less eye's on the water to see these abuses.

More importantly, who does Hogarth report to?
I've read statements from him about his support of the longline industry and his leadership does not appear to be making the necessary change. While this issue is perferct for the NMFS and well directed, there are many other issues we need to start working above the NMFS rather than through them.

They haven't shown that they deserve the respect or the power and it's time for change.

[flatbottom]

Nice letter sent. I hope it will reach the proper desks with speed.

The Chesapeake Fishermen tried to stop the netting of bunker by the millions of pounds and NMFS is in the back pocket of bankers that loaned OMEGA millions of dollars.. See when OMEGA defaults on the loans the bankers get a little tweaked, so the numbers (DATA) is altered to serve the bankers. Sweet little party they have going here...huh We see every day the spot planes locating the schools and watch bunker sucked aboard the huge ships. I guess the data collection is not in yet or NMFS would of surely put a stop to this. Many fish rely on the bunker population to grow and replenish their stock. Again the White Marlin Hot Spots are subject to netting and longliners everyday but again the data collection must not be in for a stop to take place. We don't need NMFS to build a fishery scientifically but we need NMFS to stop removing the stocks that are there. The hell with the bankers that lend the funds to the commercial fishing giants looking for a good return. NMFS stand up and do what you are in position to do.....stop waisting our money and playing games, If you can not serve the people honestly then back out of the arena. NMFS is regulating the fishery to serve the bankers not the fishermen. Do not be fooled here into believing they work for you. They are in place as an organization to return moneys to stockholders and bankers. Pretty good return they give to. The funding they receive is a mere 1.5 million and the returns are in the billions. This is a legal scam of our fishery and tax dollars protected by the wealthiest lawyers in town It makes my blood boil to type this. We need to send letters now like Deep C said and over flow there mail boxes. I think they pissed of the wrong crowd this time.....the working man crowd. . .

[trollman]

you forgot to give Hogarth the NUMBERS where u was those dead fish!