david.dansberger
06-04-2009, 01:55 PM
Fellow TFer's, Please join me in an attempt to close the Commercial Fishery for Striped Bass and Bluefish. Please write your Delegate and State Senator about this issue. Write to publications and news stations. How can this be a consumption advisory for recreational fishing only. Let's make everyone aware of the problems out there.
Please be a strong voice, we need to show strength on this!
David Dansberger
Mr. Secretary,
The warning from MDE this morning in issuing an advisory on recreationally caught fish comes up very short in protecting the public. I am lost trying to understand the logic used in a recreational warning only. How can we have Commercial Fisherman working the same waters and their catch carries no advisory. I believe at this time the only way to protect the retail public is by expanding the warning to both fisheries and by posting the warnings in all food stores and retail establishments that market this product in the state. Additionally, I believe that the managers of the fishery should close the commercial catch of Striped Bass and Bluefish until such time that the MDE finds the level of contaminates safe. This is the only way a safe public can be assured.
By and Large the recreational fisherman is quite aware of the advisories on eating many types of fish not just Striped Bass and Bluefish. This is a matter of discussion at Recreational fishing meetings such as MSSA and CCA as well in numerous sport fishing publications. If they are catching their fish the fisherman should be able to make a decision on catch and release or it becoming table fare. However, the retail public enters a supermarket or food establishment with a pre-conception that the offering has been FDA inspected and is safe to ingest. Which we know is not quite the whole truth.
Please Mr. Secretary, close the Commercial Fishery for Striped Bass and Bluefish until such time MDE rules they are safe for all people in the State of Maryland to Consume.
Thank you and I look forward to your response,
David Dansberger, Commissioner
Sport Fish Advisory Commission
Attachment of notice with highlight's
FISH CONSUMPTION ADVISORY FOR STRIPED BASS AND BLUEFISH IN ATLANTIC COASTAL WATERS
Atlantic Coastal States Issue Joint Advisory to Protect Public Health
Baltimore, MD (June 3, 2009) The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE), in coordination with other eastern coastal states, is issuing a fish consumption advisory to cover striped bass and bluefish caught through recreational fishing in Atlantic coastal waters.
The Department advises that striped bass and bluefish caught through recreational fishing in Atlantic coastal waters should not be eaten by sensitive populations such as pregnant women, women of childbearing age, nursing mothers, and children six years of age and younger. The general population should eat no more than one meal (eight ounces per adult and three ounces per child) per month of striped bass, and one meal every other month of bluefish.
Bluefish over 20 inches and large migratory striped bass tend to contain higher levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), a banned substance that is classified as a neurotoxin and a probable human carcinogen. Because levels at which PCBs are found in these popular fish are of concern to MDE, the Agency is taking this action.
"This effort reflects the benefits of cooperation across state lines to protect public health," said MDE's Science Services Director Rich Eskin. "To protect public health, MDE will monitor PCB levels in coastal marine striped bass and bluefish, and we will update consumption advisories as needed."
Other states issuing similar advisories include: Maine, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, New Jersey and Delaware.( how can Virginia's fish be safe if Marylands are not?)These advisories are based on a 2008 report by the Eastern Coastal Striped Bass and Bluefish Consumption Advisory Workgroup. In an effort to develop consistent advisories for striped bass and bluefish caught in eastern coastal waters, the Workgroup evaluated methods used by states for developing consumption advisories regarding PCB concentration in striped bass and bluefish from Maine to Georgia.
The Department continually updates fish consumption advisories to reflect new data. For the latest information, go to Fish and Shellfish Home.
Please be a strong voice, we need to show strength on this!
David Dansberger
Mr. Secretary,
The warning from MDE this morning in issuing an advisory on recreationally caught fish comes up very short in protecting the public. I am lost trying to understand the logic used in a recreational warning only. How can we have Commercial Fisherman working the same waters and their catch carries no advisory. I believe at this time the only way to protect the retail public is by expanding the warning to both fisheries and by posting the warnings in all food stores and retail establishments that market this product in the state. Additionally, I believe that the managers of the fishery should close the commercial catch of Striped Bass and Bluefish until such time that the MDE finds the level of contaminates safe. This is the only way a safe public can be assured.
By and Large the recreational fisherman is quite aware of the advisories on eating many types of fish not just Striped Bass and Bluefish. This is a matter of discussion at Recreational fishing meetings such as MSSA and CCA as well in numerous sport fishing publications. If they are catching their fish the fisherman should be able to make a decision on catch and release or it becoming table fare. However, the retail public enters a supermarket or food establishment with a pre-conception that the offering has been FDA inspected and is safe to ingest. Which we know is not quite the whole truth.
Please Mr. Secretary, close the Commercial Fishery for Striped Bass and Bluefish until such time MDE rules they are safe for all people in the State of Maryland to Consume.
Thank you and I look forward to your response,
David Dansberger, Commissioner
Sport Fish Advisory Commission
Attachment of notice with highlight's
FISH CONSUMPTION ADVISORY FOR STRIPED BASS AND BLUEFISH IN ATLANTIC COASTAL WATERS
Atlantic Coastal States Issue Joint Advisory to Protect Public Health
Baltimore, MD (June 3, 2009) The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE), in coordination with other eastern coastal states, is issuing a fish consumption advisory to cover striped bass and bluefish caught through recreational fishing in Atlantic coastal waters.
The Department advises that striped bass and bluefish caught through recreational fishing in Atlantic coastal waters should not be eaten by sensitive populations such as pregnant women, women of childbearing age, nursing mothers, and children six years of age and younger. The general population should eat no more than one meal (eight ounces per adult and three ounces per child) per month of striped bass, and one meal every other month of bluefish.
Bluefish over 20 inches and large migratory striped bass tend to contain higher levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), a banned substance that is classified as a neurotoxin and a probable human carcinogen. Because levels at which PCBs are found in these popular fish are of concern to MDE, the Agency is taking this action.
"This effort reflects the benefits of cooperation across state lines to protect public health," said MDE's Science Services Director Rich Eskin. "To protect public health, MDE will monitor PCB levels in coastal marine striped bass and bluefish, and we will update consumption advisories as needed."
Other states issuing similar advisories include: Maine, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, New Jersey and Delaware.( how can Virginia's fish be safe if Marylands are not?)These advisories are based on a 2008 report by the Eastern Coastal Striped Bass and Bluefish Consumption Advisory Workgroup. In an effort to develop consistent advisories for striped bass and bluefish caught in eastern coastal waters, the Workgroup evaluated methods used by states for developing consumption advisories regarding PCB concentration in striped bass and bluefish from Maine to Georgia.
The Department continually updates fish consumption advisories to reflect new data. For the latest information, go to Fish and Shellfish Home.