Need Real Help w/Menhaden - Also Update

[Brandon]

Hi Gang

As some of you in this area of the Chesapeake know the menhaden cap that was put into place to protect menhaden in the Virginia portion of the Chesapeake is about to expire in 2010 and we need to get to work to make sure that at a minimum it stays in place.

The menhaden fleet is required to report their catch (location caught and also amount caught) on a weekly basis to NOAA. Monthly and annual landings data and age composition of the catches is publicly available, however place of catch is not. When Omega first stared filing these reports there was a competitor and the location information was filed under a ASMFC/NOAA clause that did not allow this data to be released for competitive reasons, which I totally understand. However, Omega no longer has any competitors but is still trying to use this clause to suppress the data. There are some legal things that can be done of which are being worked on to change this. While those wheels are in motion it is with out a doubt that Omega will stall as long as possible.

HELP SPOT THE FLEET
We really need to know where these catches are taking place to understand what impact they are having on the Chesapeake Bay. I want to start a Menhaden Spotting Action Network so we can start to get a pulse on exactly where the Omega Fleet is harvesting.
This issue effects all of us, no food for fish to eat, no fish, its that simple.

So, if you spot the menhaden fleet while you are out fishing please record the location(lat long) and time and post in this thread or if you feel more comfortable PMing me the information that is fine too. I will create a map that I will post on Tidal Fish so we can start to keep track of what really is going on. Everyone that posts here or sends me a report with the location information (description of area, lat, long, and time,date) will get entered into a monthly raffle where we will give away a Tidal Fish hat. It starts today, May 1.

PETITION UPDATE
An update on the petition that was started here on the board. I counted them earlier this week and to date we have about 500, we need more. There are several organizations working on this issue and these petitions matter.

The petition is below. You can simply print this page out and fill it in and send to me or download a PDF version here (http://www.tidalfish.com/Menhaden_Reduction_Petition.pdf) via email scanned in (BrandonW@TidalFish.com) or snail mail it to me.

You can send petitions in via snail mail to:

Tidal Fish Menhaden
PO Box 2308
Easton, MD 21601

We are still looking for local bait and tackle shops to put this petition in their shops and collect signatures. If you are a shop owner or work at a shop and are willing to do this I will list you in this thread as a sponsor of the initiative along with all your contact information for your shop and link to your shop to help you for helping the fish. Email me at: BrandonW@TidalFish.com.

NOTE: NO ONES ADDRESS, PHONE NUMBER OR ANYTHING WILL BE SOLD OR USED FOR ANYTHING ELSE THEN SUPPORTING THIS EFFORT.

Let's make a difference!

Brandon

----------
Menhaden Reduction Petition

The below voting citizens and recreational anglers request the following:

1. The undersigned request that the State of Virginia cut the current menhaden harvest within the Chesapeake Bay and territorial sea to a combined total of 60,000 Metric Tons per year.

(The current limit is 109,000 MT within the bay, there is no limit for the waters outside of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel but within VA waters. Once they reach that limit they simply move the gear outside of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel)

2. Request that the legislature modify state code section 28.2-409 such that all state waters less than thirty-five (35) feet deep are included as exclusionary areas, in order to protect important recreational and commercial species which live at the bottom of the water column from capture or disturbance by the seventy-five (75) foot deep purse seines.

3. That the season for menhaden within Virginia's territorial sea be closed between the Saturday following the third Friday in November and the Sunday preceding the first Monday in May. This closure is requested in order to protect the juvenile menhaden that are leaving the bay and to reduce the gear conflict issues between the purse seine fishery and the recreational and commercial striped bass fisheries.

4. That any species covered by a commercial quota that are retained by the purse seine fishery as part of their allowed 1% by-catch be estimated and counted against those commercial quotas. Specific species of concern are striped bass, speckled trout, bluefish and summer flounder.

Signature

Full Name:

Address

City ST Zip

Email Address: @

Phone number

[Mike Avery]

I thought the intent of the temporary ceiling expiring in 2010 was so that they would have the scientific data back to determine what affect Omega was having on the biomass in total. The idea being the new ceiling in 2010 would be grounded in something more scientific.

[Brandon]

There are some questions if the science will be done by then. The whole drill is crazy, historically we have so few compared to what we used to have that my niece in forth grade figured it out.

[Frank Kearney]

For those interesting in more information menhaden and other species that will be discussed at the ASMFC meeting in Alexander starting on Monday May 4th. Go to Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (http://www.asmfc.org/)
Click on Breaking News
Click on ASMFC Spring Meeting Final Agenda & Meeting Materials
Look for the Management Board of the species that interests you.

For example one of the items that is on the Menhaden Board Agenda is extending the menhaden cap and if you look at the minutes of the last meeting then you will learn a lot about the studies that were funded about the depletion of menhaden in the Bay. It does not look good to get a lot of information out of the studies.

Frank Kearney
Co-Chairman CCA VA Government Affairs Committee

[rattler]

take pics when they violate!!! way past the just BITCHIN part.

[Bob Allen]

Thanks to Frank Kearney (CCA/VA), for providing links to the ASMFC meetings. There I was able to read the minutes of the last meeting of the Atlantic Manhaden Management Board. It was nice to see that individual states are attempting to provide statistics , collected over many years in their trawl surveys and in their commercial harvests of menhaden. Of the 15 Coastal Atlantic States in ASMFC , only two permit the industrial harvest of Manhaden in their waters(VA and NC). One of the two: The North Carolina legislatuire is facing increasing pressure to prohibit the harvest of manhaden for industrial reduction off the entire coast of NC. One North Carolina county recently enacted legisation to prohibit the industrial harvest of menhaden for that single coast side county.

At the last meeting of ASMFC, Dr. Louis Daniel suggested a COAST -WISE CAP on the industrial harvest of Manhaden versus the present limited Ches Bay Cap which is due to expire in 2010.


Mr Ken Hinman, a member of the Menhaden Advisory Panel made the comment to ASMFC that the total population is down to the lowpoints of the sixties and seventies . Recuritment is at historic lows; juvenile abuncance indices are low. All the largest Adult no longer appear in the fishery in large numbers.

I copied the above comments for tidalfish from the last meeting minutes of the ASMFC Menhaden Management Board.

The spring meeting of that Board , as Frank (CCA/VA) informed us, will be this coming week. Frank Kearney plans to attend and will keep us appraised of developments.

Bob Allen, PSWSFA & VCAC

[Brandon]

Another update on petition count, we are at about 575 petition now. We need more!
Waiting on that first report of a sighting of the boats too.

Thanks

[rattler]

I'VE signed. They are getting blasted in the GULF also. I guess WE don't have enough left. SORRY about 250 jobs in Reedville. They the only ones!!!!!

[Brandon]

So they are extending the cap, or going to try to. The cap is better then nothing, but really is a joke since they have not reached it in many years.....guess why? Maybe because there are not as many freaking menhaden in the bay anymore maybe because we've been over harvesting them????

-------
ASMFC Atlantic Menhaden Board Initiates Addendum to Extend Chesapeake Bay Reduction Fishery Harvest Cap to 2013

Alexandria, VA - The Commission's Atlantic Menhaden Management Board approved the initiation of Draft Addendum IV to Amendment 1 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Menhaden. The Draft Addendum will propose extending the Chesapeake Bay reduction fishery harvest cap, established through Addendum III, for an additional three years (2011 to 2013). The Board will annually review measures in Addendum IV, if approved, to determine if they are appropriate given the most recent information available about the stock and fishery.

The Board's action was initiated by the Commonwealth of Virginia in order to accommodate its legislative process as well as ensure that the current management program is extended while menhaden research efforts continue. Virginia's legislature, which meets January through March each year, is responsible for regulating the menhaden reduction fishery in state waters. With a new Addendum in place this year, Virginia state administrators can work with the legislature in early 2010 to amend Virginia Law to extend the harvest cap without the current cap expiring.

Addendum III established the current annual cap of 109,020 metric tons on reduction fishery harvests in Chesapeake Bay as a precautionary measure while research was conducted to address the question of menhaden abundance in the Bay. The cap has been in place since 2006 and will extend through 2010. Harvest for reduction purposes is prohibited in the Chesapeake Bay when 100 percent of the cap is landed. Over-harvest in any given year would be deducted from the next year’s quota. Addendum III also includes a provision allowing under-harvest in one year to be credited only to the following year’s cap, not to exceed 122,740 metric tons.

The Board will meet in August 2009, during the Commission's Summer Meeting, to review the Draft Addendum and consider approving it for public comment. For more information, please contact Braddock Spear, Senior Fishery Management Plan Coordinator for Policy, at (202) 289-6400 or bspear@asmfc.org.

[Frank Kearney]

There is a stock assessment going on with Atlantic Menhaden with a final report that will be issued in May 2010. There is a meeting to discuss the data for the stock assessment at the Crowne Plaza Downtown in Richmond May 12-14th.

Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission

Atlantic Menhaden Stock Assessment Data Workshop

May 12 - 14, 2009
Richmond, Virginia

Draft Agenda
The times listed are approximate; the order in which these items will be taken is subject to change;
other items may be added as necessary.

Objectives
• Collect and organize all data for the assessment
• Conduct preliminary analyses to help determine best approach(es) for the assessment


May 12th

1. Welcome (Vaughan) 8:30 a.m.
2. Review Agenda and Objectives of the Workshop (Vaughan) 8:35 a.m.

3. Review Draft Terms of Reference (Spear) 8:45 a.m.

4. Discuss Data Report for ‘Introduction’ 9:15 a.m.
• Management unit definition
• Regulatory history
• Assessment history (Ref. Doc. S20DW01)
• Plan/begin drafting of Data Report

5. Discuss Data Report for ‘Life History and Habitat’ 11:00 a.m.
• Stock definition
• Ageing
• Age & growth (Ref. Doc. S20DW04)
• Fecundity & maturity (Ref. Doc. S20DW04)
• Diet
• Mortality rates (including natural mortality; Ref. Doc. S20DW03)
• Other (environmental issues)?
• Plan/begin drafting of Data Report

6. Lunch 12:00 p.m.

7. Discuss Data Report for ‘Life History and Habitat’ (cont.) 1:15 p.m.

8. Adjourn 5:00 p.m.

May 13th

1. Revisit discussions from previous day, if necessary 8:30 a.m.

2. Discuss Data Report for ‘Fishery & Commercial Data’ 9:00 a.m.
• Historical harvest (Ref. Doc. S20DW02)
• Recent commercial landings and CAA (Ref. Doc. S20DW05)
• Reduction fishery CPUE
• Plan/begin drafting of Data Report

3. Lunch 12:30 p.m.

4. Discuss Data Report for ‘Fishery-Independent Data’ 1:45 p.m.
• Coastwide weighting for the indices of abundance
• PRFC index
• Others
• Plan/begin drafting of Data Report

5. Adjourn 5:00 p.m.


May 14th

1. Revisit discussions from previous day, if necessary 8:30 a.m.

2. Discuss Data Report for ‘Fishery-Independent Data’ (cont.) 9:30 a.m.

3. Discuss Ideas for Modeling Approaches 10:30 a.m.

4. Draft List of Assignments and Due Dates 12:00 p.m.

5. Other business 12:30 p.m.

6. Adjourn 1:00 p.m.

[kayakkevin]

im not sure if this is the thread to report sightings but, i saw them in the b18 area off kipto thursday may 18th. ive got some video. shot from b16

[Brandon]

Hi Kevin

Thanks, if you would share some of the video I would love to see it. Shoot me an email. BrandonW@TidalFish.com

Thanks

Brandon

[Hardtime]

Monday June 8, 2030
Three menhaden processing ships anchored between Cape Henry and the CBBT. You can bet they will be pillaging tomorrow.

[Brandon]

Thanks Hardtime! If you see them again please report.

[gordy]

They have been working the area around the "B" buoy just west of the CLT for the last week. There have been 6-8 trawlers out there every morning. This morning the were working just inside the bay around Cape Henry...5 trawlers.

[kendall]

They were outside lynnhaven inlet all week and this morning when i left the inlet......

[Brandon]

Hi Kendall

Thanks. If you can and see them please take a picture of them so we have some documentation. They were way further up in the bay last week, it sounds like they are moving south.

[racn35]

From Rudee Inlet south 14 miles down sandbridge ........not a single school today ........ we KNOT~YET and GIGOLOT.........never saw any........

NO spanish either for that matter !

[BottomKnocker]

Heard from a buddy they were over on Latimer shoal monday June 8 th in the fog, early.

[kayakkevin]

heres the video from may 28th off kipto
<object width="640" height="505"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/R0vtMrZCP9A&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/R0vtMrZCP9A&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="505"></embed></object>

[kendall]

10-4 brandon

[guzzi]

The fleet was stacked up about 1 mile west of the 4th island on sunday loading up.

[Brandon]

Thanks Guzzi! If you think of it snap a picture next time as well.

Kayak Kevin, thanks for the vid!

Thanks!

[CRYSTAL_CLEAR_D]

Today around 1pm off the first island...about a mile or two.

The boat...
http://images2d.snapfish.com/232323232%7Ffp536%3B7%3Enu%3D334%3A%3E964%3E572%3E WSNRCG%3D327%3A99838%3A336nu0mrj

Relation to the island...this is just after making a haul...boat is over to the right of pic...
http://images2d.snapfish.com/232323232%7Ffp536%3B%3A%3Enu%3D334%3A%3E964%3E572% 3EWSNRCG%3D327%3A9983%3A3336nu0mrj


Sean

[kapoc]

Today after the the storms they set anchor awaiting tomorrow sitting over 2 nm north of little creek inlet and same blue hulled boat with the set boats ready on the side Looks like they are setting up camp on that flat.

[Brandon]

Thanks Crystal Clear, great pics!

Kapoc, great intel, thanks.

Someone is working on a map and signtings log so we can keep track where they fish each day. Once that page is up I will post it here.
Here is a crazy thing, if they catch on the south/ocean side of the CBBT it is not considered in their bay quota even though the real demarcation line of the Chesapeake Bay is several miles from the CBBT. Loophole for them? You tell me, but seems a little unfair that it is an excepted fact where the bay ends and starts, but that these guys have their "own line".

Thanks again and keep up the good work!

Thanks

[Bob Allen]

On Tueday, June 9, I was returning from fishing the third island and going back to the Hampton side; I crossed the stern of three menhaden/omega protein boats headed toward Reedville. They appeared loaded. That was at 1 pm yesterday. BobAllen

[qdrose]

I saw a very interesting post today on Yahoo's Omega Protein message board (copied below). I do not have any personal knowledge of whether it's true or not. Maybe the Tidal Fish group might be able to shed some additional light on the subject or maybe someone has some contacts at the NC DMF to confirm the report.

Yahoo! Message Boards - Omega Protein Corporation (OME) - No comment necessary. (http://messages.finance.yahoo.com/Stocks_%28A_to_Z%29/Stocks_O/threadview?m=tm&bn=13337&tid=4109&mid=4109&tof=1&frt=2)

RALEIGH, NC — Last week, a Virginia-based menhaden fishing vessel spilled fish off the coast of Cape Lookout. The North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries also received complaints about bycatches of red drum and commercial operations by several menhaden boats near recreational areas on our coast. The spill and associated complaints involved a boat owned by Omega Protein of Reedville, Va.

According to published reports, the Division of Marine Fisheries (“DMF”) received a report last Monday from Omega Protein that the captain of the Fishing Vessel (F/V) Tangier Island had split a net and spilled approximately 150,000 dead fish about two miles off Cape Lookout.

A few hours later, DMF received a call that the F/V Lancaster was setting its nets among a group of sports fishermen. Reports and photographs indicated the menhaden boat was fishing very close to the shore. According to reports, DMF also received complaints of a menhaden vessel fishing close to shore in a heavily used recreational area just off Emerald Isle.

Last Wednesday, the DMF received yet another report of dead menhaden and about 50 large red drum floating offshore in the area of the spill. The dead red drum, North Carolina’s Official Saltwater Fish, was the result of bycatch in menhaden nets.

These disasters could have easily been prevented had the North Carolina General Assembly acted on legislation aimed at banning this destructive industrial practice. On April 8, 2009, Representatives Ty Harrell and Darren Jackson introduced House Bill 1344 (“Prohibit Taking of Menhaden for Purposes of Reduction”). The simple purpose of the legislation is to enact a ban on menhaden reduction fishing in state waters because there are no longer any menhaden reduction facilities in North Carolina. The legislation would also minimize the chances of “fish spills” such as those last week that pose a threat to our coast.

Omega Protein boats can come to North Carolina waters, harvest our fish and possibly cause local stock depletion. Yet, North Carolina receives no benefit as these boats return to Virginia to process the catch. Some North Carolina counties have enacted local restrictions on this reduction fishery, but we have no statewide ban on this practice.

[qdrose]

Some additional info from some NC fishing boards. Looks like they were fishing down in NC last week and not making too many friends down there.

Offshore Fishing Reports - Omega Protein & MFC WTG !!!! - NEWS-TIMES STAFF REPORT Published: Sunday, June 7, 2009 2:00 AM EDT MOREHEAD CITY — A Virginia-based menhaden fishing vessel spilled fish off the coast of Cape Lookout Monday, and that inciden (http://fryingpantower.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=13048&start=0&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=)

North Carolina Sportsman - Inshore cobia thick at Crystal Coast (http://www.northcarolinasportsman.com/details.php?id=1129)

[kayakkevin]

they spilled 20 to 30 thousand pounds north of kipto last week.

[Frank Kearney]

News Release
Coastal Conservation Association
4809 Hargrove Road, Suite 123, Raleigh NC 27616
Email: stephen@ccanc.org Website: Coastal Conservation Association of North Carolina (http://www.ccanc.org)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 10, 2009 CONTACT: Stephen Ammons, 919-781-3474


HOUSE BILL 1344 WOULD HAVE PREVENTED DESTRUCTIVE FISH SPILL OFF CAPE LOOKOUT

Coastal Conservation Association Urges State House Committee On Marine Resources And Aquaculture To Take Action On Legislation That Will Prevent Future Disasters

RALEIGH, NC — Last week, a Virginia-based menhaden fishing vessel spilled fish off the coast of Cape Lookout. The North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries also received complaints about bycatches of red drum and commercial operations by several menhaden boats near recreational areas on our coast. The spill and associated complaints involved a boat owned by Omega Protein of Reedville, Va.

According to published reports, the Division of Marine Fisheries (“DMF”) received a report last Monday from Omega Protein that the captain of the Fishing Vessel (F/V) Tangier Island had split a net and spilled approximately 150,000 dead fish about two miles off Cape Lookout.

A few hours later, DMF received a call that the F/V Lancaster was setting its nets among a group of sports fishermen. Reports and photographs indicated the menhaden boat was fishing very close to the shore. According to reports, DMF also received complaints of a menhaden vessel fishing close to shore in a heavily used recreational area just off Emerald Isle.

Last Wednesday, the DMF received yet another report of dead menhaden and about 50 large red drum floating offshore in the area of the spill. The dead red drum, North Carolina’s Official Saltwater Fish, was the result of bycatch in menhaden nets.

These disasters could have easily been prevented had the North Carolina General Assembly acted on legislation aimed at banning this destructive industrial practice. On April 8, 2009, Representatives Ty Harrell and Darren Jackson introduced House Bill 1344 (“Prohibit Taking of Menhaden for Purposes of Reduction”). The simple purpose of the legislation is to enact a ban on menhaden reduction fishing in state waters because there are no longer any menhaden reduction facilities in North Carolina. The legislation would also minimize the chances of “fish spills” such as those last week that pose a threat to our coast.

Unfortunately, House Bill 1344 has languished in committee for over two months without a hearing. Based on last week’s completely avoidable events, the Coastal Conservation Association of North Carolina is urging the House Committee on Marine Resources and Aquaculture to immediately take up this important bill. According to CCA-NC Executive Director Stephen Ammons, “We cannot afford to sit by another minute while the destructive practice of menhaden reduction fishing continues in North Carolina’s waters.”

The menhaden reduction fishery is an industrial commercial fishing activity that harvests hundred million of pounds of menhaden each year to be used in oils and animal feed. While these fish are not consumed by humans, menhaden represent the most significant forage fish for species such as striped bass, king mackerel, flounders, weakfish and tunas. Omega Protein is the only reduction plant on the east coast. Reduction fishing is very efficient at decimating menhaden schools while occasionally causing major fish kills that wash up on the beach.

Omega Protein boats can come to North Carolina waters, harvest our fish and possibly cause local stock depletion. Yet, North Carolina receives no benefit as these boats return to Virginia to process the catch. Some North Carolina counties have enacted local restrictions on this reduction fishery, but we have no statewide ban on this practice.

[Pogyboat]

For me, the dumb one, where are the petitions to be signed? Would like to sign. ES of MD

[Brandon]

gdrose, Frank and Kevin, Thanks for the great info. Like I said, if anyone sees them, take pictures, words people can argue with, pictures like we all have been posting tell the story.

Pogyboat, scroll to the top of this thread in the first post by me, you will see the petition along with a link to download it.

Thanks

[striper_on]

4 boats today inside the bay off Cape Henry about 1300 hrs. No pics sorry

[chelsea]

at least 3 boats spent the night at the mouth of the Rappahanock river between Windmill and Stringray points. By 6:300 am this morning the plane was flying looking for pods of fish. Plane still flying the river as of 7:30

[Brandon]

Thanks guys, keep the reports coming!

[Mike-JacksonCreek]

Brandon

I commercial crab in Va waters at the mouth of the Potomac. I buy my menhadden from Va Seafood in Kinsale. Most if not all of their bait comes from Potomac and Reedvile area pound netters that unload on their docks on the Yeocomico (off of the Potomac), or from their docks in Reedville. Issue is that for the past month the fish are all small 1-2 yr old menhadden, 5-7 inch's long. Crabbers don't like these small fish because it takes 2-3 additional hand motions to bait a pot. Its far easier/faster to put 2 large fish (12 inch menhadden) in each pot. I asked them last week (when I bought 500lbs) where the big fish are. Answer was...'we ain't getting any'. Last year I rarely got small fish. Could this mean a change in class fish due to reduction...makes one wonder?

[hookinfinger]

The boats are out working in front of my place this morning. Will post pictures later.




Dennis

[baitbox]

Two boats fished the mouth of the Rappahanock this morning, Monday June 15.

[Walt Rogers]

2 boats were working off Lynnhaven pier this morning Jun 15

Walt