Additional resources needed to monitor and assess at-sea river herring bycatch to help federal fishery managers develop conservation measures

Washington, DC -- Tuesday, June 23, 2009 the Marine Fish Conservation Network joined with the National Coalition for Marine Conservation, Cape Cod Commercial Hook Fishermen’s Association, the Massachusetts Striped Bass Association, and 100 other fishing, conservation, science and faith-based organizations in asking U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke to take urgent action to protect river herring.

The groups sent a letter supporting the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s (ASMFC) request that the Secretary take Emergency Action to effectively monitor and minimize river herring bycatch in ocean fisheries. The Commerce Secretary is also urged to support cooperative efforts between the Atlantic states and the federal New England and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Councils to better manage river herring and other fish that travel between state and federally-managed waters.

“The number of groups signing this letter sends a powerful message to the Secretary of Commerce and federal fishery managers in New England and the Mid-Atlantic that we want to see a serious effort made to restore river herring,” said Brooks Mountcastle, Mid-Atlantic Representative for the Marine Fish Conservation Network. “River herring play an important role in the ecosystem as prey for predator fish, marine mammals, and seabirds. Failing to act would mean more than the loss of a species, but a loss of profound cultural and historical significance for many coastal communities.”

The term river herring refers to both alewife and blueback herring which spawn in rivers but spend most of their lives at sea. Spotting river herring returning to their home rivers was the equivalent of the American robin heralding the arrival of spring for many coastal communities. River herring was designated a Species of Concern in 2006 by the National Marine Fisheries Service.

“The recreational fishing community supported a moratorium on river herring harvest almost five years ago, and there has been no significant improvement made since then. If river herring had wings, they would have been added to the endangered species list years ago,” said Patrick Paquette, Past President and Government Affairs Officer for the Massachusetts Striped Bass Association. In fact, the Mass. Department of Marine Fisheries reports that in 1989, there were approximately 388,000 river herring migrating up the Merrimack River, while in 2007, there were only 1,170.

The small, silvery fish are prized as both food and bait fish. Because they are a fishery resource shared by the coastal Atlantic states, they are managed by the ASMFC, a body comprised of representatives from 15 states from Maine to Florida. In May, the ASMFC determined that the Secretary of Commerce needed to take emergency action to assess and reduce the impacts of bycatch on river herring populations at sea, beyond state jurisdiction (3- 200 miles offshore).

“There is no question that river herring are falling through the cracks in our fisheries management systems,” said Pam Lyons Gromen, Executive Director of the National Coalition for Marine Conservation. “The body responsible for river herring management, the ASMFC, is limited to actions in states’ waters even though river herring spend most of their lives at sea in federal waters managed by the New England and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Councils.”

Today, river herring bycatch (unintentionally caught while fishing for another species) in federally-regulated ocean fisheries exceeds the in-river landings of river herring on the entire East Coast. A preliminary study estimates that in 2007, there were 1.7 million pounds of river herring bycatch in the Atlantic sea herring fishery. Actual estimates of river herring bycatch in ocean fisheries are hard to obtain because of insufficient fishery observer coverage. For example, between 2004 and 2008, only 48 out of 1,065 Atlantic mackerel fishing trips had federally trained observers onboard to document the catch.

“It’s even worse than it sounds,” said Tom Rudolph, Herring Campaign Operations Director for the Cape Cod Commercial Hook Fishermen’s Association. “Even when observers are on board, they are often denied access to the catch which prevents accurate and complete sampling. For instance, over 16 percent of the tows for which an observer was aboard in the Atlantic herring fishery in 2007 were considered “unobserved” because fish were dumped out of the net without allowing the observers to sample them.”

The Secretary of Commerce has the authority to make an emergency action and implement measures, like adequate and accountable monitoring, to protect river herring. According to this unprecedented and diverse coalition, the management system has failed, and therefore the letter signers have come together to speak in a unified voice. The letter calls on Secretary Locke to take action and bring river herring back.

To read the letter please click here , including a list of all signing organizations, please visit www.conservefish.org, www.ccchfa.org , www.msba.net , and www.honestbycatch.com . The Marine Fish Conservation Network, www.conservefish.org, is a coalition of over 200 national and regional environmental organizations, commercial and recreational fishing groups, aquariums, and marine science groups dedicated to achieving healthy oceans and productive fisheries.

The National Coalition for Marine Conservation, www.savethefish.org , is a non-profit national environmental organization devoted exclusively to conserving ocean fish and their environment. NCMC's mission is to build awareness of the threats to our marine fisheries and convince policy-makers at the regional, national and international levels to restore and protect publicly-owned fishery resources. The organization was founded in 1973 by conservation-minded anglers and today is supported by fishermen, scientists, divers, boaters and wildlife enthusiasts.

The Cape Cod Commercial Hook Fishermen’s Association, www.ccchfa.org , is a nationally recognized, nonprofit organization that aligns protection of the oceans with the economic interests of our historic fishing community. The Cape Cod Commercial Hook Fishermen's Association supports stewardship of coastal ecosystems through education, research, and policy programs. Started in 1991 by the local fishing fleet, the Association is now the leading community fisheries organization in the region. The Cape Cod Commercial Hook Fishermen's Association is taking action now to make sure there are fish for future generations.

Massachusetts Striped Bass Association, www.msba.net , the Massachusetts Striped Bass Association (MSBA) is the oldest and largest public recreational fishing organization in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Incorporated in 1950, MSBA has for decades been considered the leading voice when it comes to representing the Massachusetts recreational fishing community. Although our name suggests otherwise, MSBA is concerned with and advocates for all issues of importance to the Massachusetts recreational fishing community.

Contact:

Brooks Mountcastle , Marine Fish Conservation Network
717-221-0148

Ken Hinman, National Coalition for Marine Conservation
703-777-0037
hinmank@mindspring.com
Tom Rudolph, Cape Cod Commercial Hook Fishermen’s Association
508-776-8056
tom@ccchfa.org
Patrick Paquette, Massachusetts Striped Bass Association
781-771-8374
basicpatrick@aol.com