ARLINGTON, VA / ACCESSWIRE / August 3, 2022 / The newest Atlantic menhaden inventory evaluation accepted in the present day by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Fee (ASMFC) confirms as soon as once more that Atlantic menhaden is wholesome, not overfished, and that overfishing isn’t occurring. Considerably, this evaluation was accomplished utilizing new ecological reference factors, requirements that account for the wants of predator species when figuring out menhaden’s sustainable standing.
Atlantic menhaden usually are not overfished and overfishing isn’t occurring, in keeping with the newest ASMFC inventory evaluation utilizing ecological reference factors.
Previously, single-species inventory assessments that discovered menhaden to be wholesome and never overfished have been criticized by some for not making an allowance for interdependencies between species. The ASMFC’s ecosystem-based reference factors have been developed over years, with help from trade, leisure fishermen, and environmental teams, to maneuver away from managing species in isolation and take into account the wants of predator species and the ecosystem as an entire.
Two years in the past, the consideration and adoption of those ecological reference factors have been publicly praised by quite a few sportfishing and conservation teams together with:
Theodore Roosevelt Conservation PartnershipAmerican Sportfishing AssociationCoastal Conservation Affiliation MarylandMarine Retailers Affiliation of the AmericasPew Charitable Trusts
At the moment, utilizing these stricter requirements that incorporate the forage wants of predators, the brand new evaluation has discovered that the menhaden fishery is sustainable, and that menhaden fishing doesn’t negatively have an effect on predator populations.
Regardless of this scientific discovering, leisure particular pursuits are persevering with a marketing campaign to finish the menhaden fishery within the Chesapeake Bay.
Preserve America Fishing, a mission of the American Sportfishing Affiliation, accuses the fishery of “[depleting] a important striped bass meals supply,” calls menhaden fishing “unsustainable,” and along with the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership calls on its supporters to signal a petition urging Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin to “transfer Omega Protein’s boats out of the Bay till science demonstrates that industrial menhaden fishing could be executed with out negatively affecting the broader Bay ecosystem.”
These statements usually are not in step with the newest scientific findings on both menhaden or Atlantic striped bass reviewed and accepted by the ASMFC. In accordance with the ASMFC, “the final striped bass inventory evaluation discovered the inventory was overfished and that overfishing was occurring.”
There is no such thing as a proof {that a} lack of menhaden is affecting striped bass populations, however there may be proof that leisure over-harvesting of striped bass is harming the species. If leisure anglers are involved concerning the striped bass inventory, they need to cease overfishing moderately than attempt to blame the outcomes of their very own actions on one other fishery.
Whereas the American Sportfishing Affiliation’s aim to “Preserve America Fishing” is laudable, it isn’t applicable to maintain America overfishing.
The administration of pure sources shouldn’t be based mostly on politics and self-interest however should be based mostly on science, present for the frequent good, and look out for working households and the financial system.
Menhaden fishermen are keen to share the bay. Are leisure anglers?
In regards to the Menhaden Fisheries Coalition
The Menhaden Fisheries Coalition (MFC) is a collective of menhaden fishermen, associated companies, and supporting industries. Comprised of companies alongside the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, the Menhaden Fisheries Coalition conducts media and public outreach on behalf of the menhaden trade to make sure that members of the general public, media, and authorities are knowledgeable of essential points, occasions, and information concerning the fishery.
Press Contact
Bob Vanasse
(202) 333-2628
[email protected]
SOURCE: Menhaden Fisheries Coalition
View supply model on accesswire.com:
https://www.accesswire.com/710815/With-Ecosystem-Based mostly-Reference-Factors-in-Place-Atlantic-Menhaden-Evaluation-Once more-Reveals-Fishery-Wholesome-Sustainable-Not-Overfished
