[Rimarinefisheries] States Schedule Hearings on Atlantic Menhaden Draft Amendment 3 Public Information Document

[rimarinefisheries at listserve.ri.gov]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, NOVEMBER 8, 2016
PRESS CONTACT, TINA BERGER, 703.842.0740

States Schedule Hearings on Atlantic Menhaden Draft Amendment 3 Public Information Document

Arlington, VA - The Atlantic coastal states of Maine through Florida have scheduled their hearings to gather public comment on the Public Information Document (PID) for Draft Amendment 3 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Menhaden. It is anticipated Delaware will also be conducting a hearing; the details of which will be released when they become available. Information on the scheduled hearings follows.


Maine Department of Marine Resources
December 13, 2016; 6:15 PM
Casco Bay Lines Conference Room
56 Commercial Street
Portland, Maine
Contact: Terry Stockwell<mailto:terry.stockwell at maine.gov> at 207.624.6553
*This hearing will immediately follow the Jonah Crab Draft Addendum II hearing

New Hampshire Fish and Game Department
December 6, 2016; 7:20 PM
Urban Forestry Center
45 Elwyn Road
Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Contact: Doug Grout<mailto:Douglas.Grout at wildlife.nh.gov> at 603.868.1095
* This hearing will immediately follow the Jonah Crab Draft Addendum II hearing

Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries
December 12, 2016; 5:30 PM
Bourne Community Center, Room 1
239 Maine Street
Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts
Contact: Nichola Meserve<mailto:nichola.meserve at state.ma.us> at 617.626.1531
* This hearing will immediately follow the Jonah Crab Draft Addendum II hearing

Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries
December 20, 2016; 6:00PM
Thayer Public Library, Logan Auditorium
798 Washington Street
Braintree, Massachusetts
Contact: Nichola Meserve<mailto:nichola.meserve at state.ma.us> at 617.626.1531

Rhode Island Division of Fish and Wildlife
December 19, 2016; 7 PM
University of Rhode Island Bay Campus
Corless Auditorium, South Ferry Road
Narragansett, Rhode Island
Contact: Robert Ballou<mailto:robert.ballou at dem.ri.gov> at 401.222.4700 ext: 4420
* This hearing will immediately follow the Jonah Crab Draft Addendum II hearing

Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
December 14, 2016; 7 PM
CT DEEP Boating Education Center
333 Ferry Road
Old Lyme, Connecticut
Contact: David Simpson<mailto:david.simpson at CT.gov> at 860.434.6043
*This hearing will precede the Jonah Crab Draft
Addendum II hearing

New York Department of Environmental Conservation
December 15, 2016; 6:30 PM
Freeport Memorial Library
144 West Merrick Road
Freeport, New York
Contact: Steve Heins<mailto:steve.heins at dec.ny.gov> at 631.444.0430

New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife
December 8, 2016; 6:30 PM
Nacote Creek Marine Law Enforcement Office
360 North New York Road, Mile Marker 51
Port Republic, New Jersey
Contact: Russ Allen<mailto:steve.heins at dec.ny.gov> at 609.748.2020

Maryland Department of Natural Resources
December 7, 2016; 6:00 PM
Calvary United Methodist Church
Fellowship Hall
301 Rowe Boulevard
Annapolis, Maryland
Contact: Lynn Fegley<mailto:lynn.fegley at maryland.gov> at 410.260.8285

Potomac River Fisheries Commission
December 6, 2016; 6:00 PM
Carpenter Building
222 Taylor Street
Colonial Beach, Virginia
Contact: Martin Gary<mailto:martingary.prfc at gmail.com> at 804.456.6935

Virginia Marine Resources Commission
December 5, 2016; 6:00 PM
2600 Washington Ave, 4th Floor
Newport News, Virginia
Contact: Rob O'Reilly<mailto:rob.O'reilly at MRC.virginia.gov> at 757.247.2247

North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries
November 30, 2016; 5:30 PM
5285 US Highway 70 West
Morehead City, North Carolina
Contact: Michelle Duval<mailto:michelle.duval at ncdenr.gov> at 252.808.8013

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
December 1, 2016; 6:00 PM
Melbourne City Hall Chambers
900 E. Strawbridge Avenue
Melbourne, Florida
Contact: Jim Estes<mailto:jim.estes at myfws.com> at 850.617.9622


As the first step in the amendment process, the document seeks input from stakeholders and those interested in Atlantic menhaden about changes observed in the fishery/resource and potential management measures. Draft Amendment 3 was initiated following Board review and acceptance of the 2015 Stock Assessment and Peer Review report, which found the menhaden resource in good condition -- not overfished nor experiencing overfishing. Population fecundity, a measure of reproductive capacity, was estimated to be roughly double the threshold value (86.8 trillion eggs).  Additionally, total fishing mortality was estimated to be 0.22, below both the fishing mortality threshold (1.26) and target (0.38).

The PID outlines a number of issues in the fishery and solicits feedback on how the resource should be managed. Specifically, the PID presents a suite of tools to manage the menhaden resource using ecological reference points and provides options to allocate the resource among the states, regions, and user groups. In addition to the specific issues identified in the PID, commenters are welcome to provide input on all aspects of the fishery and resource, including recommendations for future management.

Stakeholders are encouraged to provide input on the PID either by attending state public hearings or providing written comment. The PID can be obtained at http://www.asmfc.org/files/PublicInput/AtlMenhadenAmend3PID_PublicComment.pdf or via the Commission's website, www.asmfc.org<http://www.asmfc.org>, under Public Input. Public comment will be accepted until 5 PM (EST) on January 4, 2017 and should be forwarded to Megan Ware, Fishery Management Plan Coordinator, 1050 N. Highland St, Suite A-N, Arlington, VA 22201; 703.842.0741 (FAX) or at comments at asmfc.org<mailto:comments at asmfc.org> (Subject line: Menhaden PID). If your organization is planning to release an action alert related to the Amendment 3 PID, please contact Megan Ware at 703.842.0740 prior to its release.

The Management Board will meet at the Commission's 2017 Winter Meeting to review and consider public comment and provide direction to staff for items to be included in the Draft Amendment 3.

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PR16-38


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Tina Berger
Director of Communications
Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission
1050 N. Highland Street, Suite 200A-N
Arlington, VA 22201

703.842.0740
tberger at asmfc.org<mailto:tberger at asmfc.org>
www.asmfc.org
Visit us on Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/AtlanticStatesMarineFisheriesCommission> and Twitter<https://twitter.com/ASMFC>

Vision: Sustainably Managing Atlantic Coastal Fisheries

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