VERY IMPORTANT PLEASE READ

[captaindon2007]

WE need you to write your congressperson about Gilchrist's bill to prohibit the industrial harvest of menhaden purse seining.....PLEASE MAKE A POST ALSO SO IT WILL KEEP THIS NEW


Stripers Forever Letter Concerning MD HR3841- Menhaden Purse Seining Ban
From Stripers Forever -

Stripers Forever Members - striped bass forage has always been of concern to our organization. For several years now, there has been an ongoing controversy about the role of menhaden in the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem. We are sending this message to you in support of the Menhaden Restoration Group, a group that is focusing its attention on restoring and protecting the populations of menhaden found in our coastal waters.

Recent studies have indicated that the availability of menhaden is critical to the sustainability of striped bass. There are indications that the abundance of menhaden has decreased to the point where their role as forage and filter feeder is not being fulfilled. The ASMFC has not responded to public concerns in a meaningful fashion, and show no signs of changing their position that the menhaden stocks are not overfished and that overfishing is not occurring.

Because of the lack of effective management of~this critical resource, United States Congressman Wayne Gilchrest (Maryland) has introduced HR3841. This bill proposes to eliminate the practice of purse seining of menhaden in both federal and state waters for reduction purposes. The bill is straight-forward and has no apparent loopholes. We believe our membership should e-mail their respective legislators in support of this measure as the most practical resolution of a very serious situation.
Everyone can find and e-mail their congressperson by going to https://forms.house.gov/htbin/wrep_findrep

Your message could be as simple as this: (just copy and paste the message)

"Dear Congressperson (their name) my name is (your name) and I live in your congressional district. Striped bass and the marine environment are very important to me. Menhaden are the number one forage of the striped bass, plus they are an important filter feeder. I believe that fishery managers have not done nearly enough to conserve menhaden stocks, and I therefore urge you to become a cosponsor of HR3841, a bill that would eliminate the practice of purse seining menhaden for reduction purposes. Please let me know how you have decided to act on this matter. (Your name again and e-mail address)"

[Team Fountain "Mary Sea"]

I wrote my congresswoman, I advise everyone to do the same to help preserve our bunker

[bar rod]

I just wrote in and did the same. This is truly an important issue in conservation.
Ed

[ElMar2530]

Done. Thanks for the heads up.

[Glenn W]

Classic example of what is wrong with our fisheries management and cooperation today--- one special interest group lobbying to the total exclusion of other uses of a resource, instead of working together to improve the resource for all. A rec Striper group wants to put Menhaden fisheries totally out of business--- As I understand it, stop commercial fishing in the Chesapeake Bay as well as the Ocean. Stop All Menhaden fishing simply so the Striper Rec fishermen can fullfill their special interest and all others be damned.


Piss poor politics and policy IMO

[captaindon2007]

Classic example of what is wrong with our fisheries management and cooperation today--- one special interest group lobbying to the total exclusion of other uses of a resource, instead of working together to improve the resource for all. A rec Striper group wants to put Menhaden fisheries totally out of business--- As I understand it, stop commercial fishing in the Chesapeake Bay as well as the Ocean. Stop All Menhaden fishing simply so the Striper Rec fishermen can fullfill their special interest and all others be damned.


Piss poor politics and policy IMO

IM SORRY YOU FEEL THIS WAY. BUT IN VIRGINIA WE CAN ONLY KEEP TWO STRIPERS A DAY FROM OCT 2007 UNTIL DEC 2007 IN THE BAY. LAST YEAR IT WAS 4 FISH . I GUESS NEXT YEAR IT WILL GO DOWN TO ONE. THAT WILL NOT BE WORTH FISHING FOR. REC FISHERMAN SUPPORT OUR STATE WITH OVER TWO BILLION DOLLARS TO THE ECONOMY. THATS ALOT OF JOBS. THE NEW ENGLAND STATES THIS YEAR HAS HAS PUT NEW LIMITS ON COMMERCIAL FISHING FOR HERRING BECAUSE OF THE DECLINE OF BLUEFIN TUNA. THEY FOUND THAT THE TUNA LOOKING FOR FOOD WENT UP TO CANADA TO FEED BECAUSE OF THE LOW NUMBERS OF HERRING OFF THE COAST OF THE NEW ENGLAND STATES. IN VIRGINIA THIS YEAR AND LAST YEAR BLUEFIN TUNA WERE ALMOST NON EXISTENCE, DUE TO LACK OF MEDHADEN.

[flatbottom]

In all our efforts. The big fed loans, will never be written off. After the millions are paid back I think we have a chance @ this. Until then keep writing you representative in hopes he will give an answer how, his house buddies, gave the money to the huge Corps, with out considering the impact on our fishery. I think we all were short sheeted again. I will send off an email.

I once, would like to see the feds give the recs millions in loans to sustain their agenda. You would have structure out the azz, up and down the east, west, southern and northern coasts. This would increase fish pops, food supply and the like. No where do I see the feds requiring the comm to replenish the bottoms they have used. I am not talking the small comms, Lord knows if any will be in business with the rising fuel costs. The large is whom I speak of. Sorry for the rant.......email sent

[Glenn W]

The fact of the matter is Captain Don, your lobby is concerned only with your special interest--- the rest be damned.
Don't get me wrong, it is clear that significant limits need to be placed on the Bunker fleet in the Bay and close monitoring in the Ocean--- But your lobby is so one sided it stinks of a rotten pork barrel.
The Bluefin migration you speak of off Virginia has little or nothing to do with the so called devistation of menhaden by the commercial fleet. There are more bunker off NC this winter than in recent memory.
Perhaps, the weather and water temps had more to do with the lack of Bluefin than anything--- as is the case in most years during the fall migration.

Marine Resource management based on legitimate objective science is what will be the best for all concerned,--- your lobby is no better than the one- sided half truths provided by the Menhaden factories--- just the other side of the coin is all.
Please understand why I feel this is bad public policy---- 100% for my special interest and 0% for any other use or interest.

BTW, it is entirely possible that I am wrong in the following, but I cannot remember when Virginia has allowed a limit of 4 Stripers. My recollection is that it has been at the current levels for several years. See for example:

http://www.mrc.state.va.us/SWR/swr10-19-06.shtm

[Succession]

Just sent mine to Thema Drake our rep in VB.

[captcl]

Classic example of what is wrong with our fisheries management and cooperation today--- one special interest group lobbying to the total exclusion of other uses of a resource, instead of working together to improve the resource for all. A rec Striper group wants to put Menhaden fisheries totally out of business--- As I understand it, stop commercial fishing in the Chesapeake Bay as well as the Ocean. Stop All Menhaden fishing simply so the Striper Rec fishermen can fullfill their special interest and all others be damned.


Piss poor politics and policy IMO

I've got to agree with Glenn W on this one. Where were these guys when we shut the fishery down in Md.? Glenn said it and I have said it before unless ALL user groups are communicating/jointly inputting the managers are going by their research and science. And speaking of research/science how much is out there or beeen conducted on the menhadden/bunker stocks, coastwise!? Let's see some numbers and,some solid research! Back in the early 1960s hardly anyone on the Ches Bay was chumming and even then we used softshell clams!(Manoes) Now if you cant hook them trolling you chum!Using up enough bait to the point that the supply became a competition between the commercial crab potters and the rec chummers to who got the bait! not to mention the eels! How about save the eels!? The bait is not as prevalent in the mid to upper bay due to poor water quality. the biggest bunker I have ever seen have been down here closer to to or at seaside. The ocean stripers look pretty well fed also!One striper a day is enough for anyone!(how about just release them!) Exclusion of one group for anothers SPORT is wrong!Check your GREED FACTOR and look at both sides of the issue!