Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission News Release

(from Jersey Coast Anglers Association (Mid-Summer 1999 Newsletter)

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PRESS CONTACT: Tina Berger

August 18, 1999 (202)289-6400

Atlantic Coastal States Schedule Atlantic Menhaden Public Hearings

Washington, D.C. – Last month the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission announced the release of the Public Information Document (PID) for Atlantic Menhaden for public review and comment. Nearly all the jurisdictions involved in the management of Atlantic menhaden have scheduled public hearings. Following are the details (dates, times and locations) of these hearings.

August 30, 1999, 7:00 PM Virginia Marine Resources Commission 2600 Washington Avenue Newport News, Virginia Contact: Jack Travelstead, (757)247-2247	August 31, 1999, 7:00 PM North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries Beaufort/Morehead City area, North Carolina (specific location to be determined) Contact: Mike Street, (252)726-7021
September 1, 1999, 7:00 PM North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries Manteo area, North Carolina (specific location to be determined) Contact: Mike Street, (252)726-7021	September 9, 1999, 7:00 PM Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission Atlantic Beach City Hall 800 Seminole Road Atlantic Beach, Florida Contact: Roy Williams, (850)487-0554
September 13, 1999, 7:00 PM Maryland Department of Natural Resources Tawes State Office Building Cafeteria Annapolis, Maryland Contact: Howard King, (410)260-8264	September 21, 1999, 6:30 PM New Jersey Division of Fish, Game & Wildlife A-Wing Lecture Hall Stockton College Ponoma, New Jersey Contact: Bruce Freeman, (609)292-2083
September 22, 1999, 7:00 PM Connecticut Dept. of Environmental Protection Marine Headquarters 333 Ferry Road Old Lyme, Connecticut Contact: Eric Smith, (860)434-6043	September 23, 1999, 7:00 PM New York Dept. of Environmental Conservation Bureau of Marine Resources 205 N. Belle Meade Road East Setauket, New York Contact: Byron Young, (516)444-0436
September 27, 1999, 7:00 PM North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries Wilmington area, North Carolina (specific location to be determined) Contact: Mike Street, (252)726-7021	September 28, 1999, 7:00 PM Maine Department of Natural Resources Portland area, Maine (specific location to be determined) Contact: Lew Flagg, (207)624-6341
September 29, 1999, 7:00 PM Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries Cedarville Fire Station 2209 State Road (Route 3A) Plymouth, Massachusetts Contact: Phil Coates, (617)727-3193	September 30, 1999, 5:00 PM Rhode Island Dept. of Environmental Management Warwick area, Rhode Island (specific location to be determined) Contact: Dick Sisson, (401)789-3094

Release of the PID and the holding of public hearings are the first steps in developing Amendment 1 to the Atlantic Menhaden Fishery Management Plan (FMP). In January, the Atlantic Menhaden Management Board passed a motion to initiate development of an amendment to the current FMP. This action was based, in part, on concerns that the Atlantic coastal population is in decline and that the management strategies set forth in the current plan may not adequately address declines in the population. The current FMP relies on six "trigger variables" to monitor changes in stock size and recruitment in the population. Since the majority of these triggers are based on catch data, the Board is concerned that the triggers do not reflect true trends in the population. Further, the trigger variables do not result in any direct management and/or regulatory action. Therefore, the PID and the amendment process will address possibly replacing several of these triggers with true biological reference points which would respond to the management goals and result in regulatory changes in the menhaden management process.

The PID will also address the current management structure and process for Atlantic menhaden. The Atlantic Menhaden Management Board is unlike any other Commission management Board in that it includes industry representation. This structure has both pros and cons and these will be thoroughly debated throughout the amendment process. The PID also reviews the current status of the resource, the various fisheries for menhaden, and the ecological role that menhaden play in the ecosystem.

Copies of the Menhaden PID can be obtained by either contacting Jeanette Braxton, Administrative Assistant, at (202) 289-6400, ext. 333, or via the Commission’s webpage under "Public Input" at www.asmfc.org. The public comment period for the Menhaden PID extends until October 8, 1999. Comments should be forwarded to Dr. Joseph Desfosse, Menhaden Fishery Management Coordinator at 1444 Eye Street, N.W., Sixth Floor, Washington, D.C. 20005; (202)289-6051 (fax). For more information, please contact Dr. Joseph Desfosse at (202) 289-6400, ext. 329.

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