 
River Herring Action Alert
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How to Take Action
Please call or email your commissioner and support the three measures (at left) to be included in the final ASMFC river herring amendment.
Click here to find your Commissioner.
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May 4, 2009
Please take action! River herring need you to call or email your Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commissioners (ASMFC) today!
On May 6th, the ASMFC will decide whether or not to protect river herring while they are at sea through the River Herring Fishery Management Amendment. Commission members need to know that citizens like you are concerned about the decline of river herring populations due to at-sea fisheries.
How to Take Action
Please call or email your commissioner and support the following measures to be included in the final ASMFC river herring amendment:
•Mandatory monitoring and reporting of catch of river herring in ocean fisheries
•Limits on the amount of river herring that can be caught at sea
•Closing areas of the ocean to fishing during certain times of the year when river herring are known to be present
Massachusetts Commissioners are:
Administrator:
Paul Diodati, MA DMF
251 Causeway Street, #400
Boston, MA 02114
Phone: 617-626-1530
FAX: 617-626-1509
Governor's Appointee:
William A. Adler, Massachusetts Lobstermen's Association
PO Box 397
Green Harbor, MA 02041
Phone: 781-545-6984
FAX: 781-545-7837
Legislator:
Rep. Anthony Verga
66 Perkins Street
Gloucester, MA 01930
Phone: 978-283-2675
FAX: 978-283-5870
Click here for more information and to find the ASMFC Commissioners in other areas.
Background Information
Approximately 6 million river herring are estimated to be taken by federal at sea fisheries; nearly double the reported amount removed by commercial and recreational fishermen in rivers. Management continues to pass the river herring issue like a hot potato, with no one stepping up to take action. State managers claim that they do not have the authority to control what goes on in federal waters and federal managers argue that they do not have a fishery management plan for river herring and that they are managed by states.
The state management body (Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission) is planning on writing a letter to the federal managers requesting their assistance, but their assistance is voluntary. We must call our State Commissioners and let them know that they must take further action at their May 6th meeting and protect river herring while at sea.
Meeting Details:
Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commissioners Shad and River Herring Management Board
Wednesday, May 6, 2009,
8:30-11:30 a.m
Crowne Plaza Hotel Old Town,
Alexandria, Virginia
Questions?
Contact Lara Slifka at Cape Cod Commercial Hook Fishermen's Association at 508-945-2432 or lara [at] ccchfa.org if you have questions or would like more information.
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Thank you for your
support. |
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