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By Frank Richetti
(from Jersey Coast Anglers Association June 2000 Newsletter)
As I reported last month, the New Jersey Marine Fisheries Council at their May 4 meeting would be acting on a motion made by Councilman Gary Dickerson to "not allow the harvest of menhaden within state waters for the purpose of reduction." The meeting took place, a lot of discussion was heard, but no action was taken. A vote on this issue was again postponed to allow further study by a few councilmen who were not at the previous meeting.It is frustrating when action is stalled on an issue that we have been working on for over three years, but I do appreciate the fact that our councilmen and women are taking this issue seriously and are asking for extra time to examine it thoroughly.
Part of that examination took place in the form of open discussion. Representatives from the recreational sector, the commercial fishing sector and the processing sector were allowed to speak. The most interesting presentations were given by two representatives from Omega Protein, the company that grinds menhaden into fishmeal for livestock and extracts the oils for food additives. They spoke on behalf of their industry.
First, an executive from the company spoke about the business aspects, how they provide jobs, provide cheap feedstock for agriculture, provide healthy fish oil as a food additive and that a growing portion of their business is for export. He also talked about how the industry has consolidated, there is now only one company involved in the reduction process and the number of fishing vessels has dropped from 20 just a few years ago to 10 for the year 20000. He claimed that it is not necessary to eliminate access to New Jersey waters because their efforts in our waters are greatly reduced.
Next, a scientist from Omega Protein, who also sits on the Menhaden Advisory Board that makes recommendations to the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, spoke about aspects of the fish stocks. As you would expect, he painted a rosy picture of healthy stocks balanced with modest harvests. He did admit that although he thinks the population is healthy, the biomass is significantly reduced from levels of ten years ago. To this he added that there is no correlation between the size of the breeding stock and the success of recruitment. In English, this means that environmental factors are more important to successfully hatch eggs and grow fry than is the number of fish that produce eggs. Some very large year classes have been produced by a modest size breeding stock.
One interesting point that the processing folks and some commercial fishermen brought up was that more menhaden are lost to natural mortality and predation than are harvested by industry. They suggested that if we want to protect the bunker we should reduce the number of predators that feed upon them and that in particular the large striped bass population should be thinned.
Now, I have an open mind about most things, but this logic seems a little backward to me. I guess they think that if is more important to protect the forage stock by reducing the game fish that feed upon them. My point of view is just the opposite; I want to protect the forage stock so that it can support a growing game fish population. Their point was really a thinly veiled attempt to eliminate the game fish status of striped bass in NJ and allow for commercial harvests again.
At Jersey Coast Anglers Association, we are not anti-commercial fishing. We are not against harvesting menhaden for bait. We have been asking for only two points. One is to insure that the stocks are healthy so that there is a good forage base to support the needs of game fish, and, two, we want to minimize the possibility of overfishing in certain zones. Concentrated fishing pressure in a small area may not impact the health of a coast-wide stock, but it certainly impacts the productivity of the local fishery.
I want to comment on the hard work and effort that our recreational representatives are giving. In particular, I want to recognize two of our councilmen, Gary Dickerson and Dr. Pat Donnelly, for seeking clarification and asking many tough questions from many of the speakers who address the council. They certainly help to balance that body. I also want to say that I am proud of the work that Jim Donofrio from the RFA, Len Fantasia from the Menhaden Project and Tom Fote from JCAA are doing. They really are your voice and, believe me, they are coming through loud and clear.
The next NJ Marine Fisheries Council meeting will be Thursday, July 6 at the Galloway Township Library. Be there to support our efforts.
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