Atlantic Menhaden FMP

[NCangler]

Draft Addendum II to the Atlantic Menhaden FMP Approved for Public Comment
States to Conduct Public Meetings this Summer

The Commission's Atlantic Menhaden Management Board approved sending forward Draft Addendum II to Amendment 1 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Menhaden for public comment and review. Most states will be conducting public hearings on the Addendum this summer; the times and locations of those hearings will be released once they become available.

The Draft Addendum was developed in response to concern regarding the possibility of localized depletion of menhaden stocks in the Chesapeake Bay. It presents a suite of management options to limit the catch of menhaden in both the Chesapeake Bay and coastwide, including various harvest caps, timeframes, and gears.

The Draft Addendum also proposes initiating a research program immediately to determine the status of menhaden populations in the Chesapeake Bay and assess whether localized depletion is occurring. It identifies the following research priorities: (1) determine menhaden abundance in the Chesapeake Bay; (2) determine estimates of menhaden removal by predators; (3) evaluate the rate of exchange of menhaden between the Bay and coastal systems; and (4) conduct larval studies to determine recruitment to the Bay.

The Board will meet in August to review public comment on the Draft Addendum and consider its final approval. Copies the Draft Addendum will be available by the end of May and can be obtained via the Commission’s website at www.asmfc.org under Breaking News or by contacting the Commission at (202) 289-6400. Public comment will be accepted until mid-July and should be forward to Nancy Wallace Atlantic Menhaden Fishery Management Plan Coordinator, at 1444 'Eye' Street, NW, Sixth Floor, Washington, DC 20005; (202)289-6051 (fax) or comments@asmfc.org (Subject line: Menhaden). For more information, please contact Nancy Wallace at (202)289-6400 or nwallace@asmfc.org.

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PR05-10



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Tina Berger
Public Affairs Specialist
Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission
1444 I Street. NW, Sixth Floor
Washington, DC 20005
Phone: (202)289-6400
FAX: (202)289-6051
Email: tberger@asmfc.org
www.asmfc.org

ASMFC Vision: Healthy, self-sustaining populations of all Atlantic coast fish species or successful restoration well in progress by the year 2015.