Study looks at balancing fishing for and preserving menhaden – Population at lowest point in 50 years? hmm

Fisheries scientists are conducting a study on Atlantic menhaden that will help identify the balance between harvesting and preserving the species. Atlantic menhaden, described as “small, oily fish” that migrate along the East Coast, are the “favorite menu item of prized rockfish,” and have a high commercial value, according to a statement the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science. Currently, the menhaden population is at its lowest point in more than 50 years due to harvesting and predation, the statement says. But fisheries scientists from UMCES are investigating the balance between fishing for Atlantic menhaden and the value the fish has in the ecosystem, thanks to a grant from the Lenfest Ocean Program. The Lenfest Ocean Program “funds scientific research on policy-relevant topics concerning the world’s oceans and communicates the results of the supported research to decision makers and other interested audiences,” according to its website. Read More

5 Responses to Study looks at balancing fishing for and preserving menhaden – Population at lowest point in 50 years? hmm

  1. Dick Grachek says:

    Lenfest is a Marketing/PR/Lobbying arm of Pew Charitable Trusts. Pew Trust is oil money, ($5.5 billion that they’ll admit to). It’s run by the grandchildren of Joseph N. Pew founder of Sun Oil or SUNOCO. They are a 501 C(3) that essentially shelters oil money but funds all the faux Environmental NGOs that do the oil/gas corporations’ bidding in order to secure future oil reserves contracts (see Steve Coll’s Private Empire: Exxon Mobil and American Power). They (Pew, EDF, CLF, etc.) are decidedly anti-fishing, not only anti-industrial fishing but anti-all fishing including sustainable small family owned and operated boats. Don’t take my word for it; see for yourself. http://www.fishtruth.net/Connections.htm

    We’ve been fighting them for years as they’ve tried to take over our publically held Outer Continental Shelf fishing grounds for drilling. Find also the “OCS 5 Year Plan” (now in year 5) on the API site or on http://www.NOIA.com

    Proven again and again: 99.9 % (…I’m being kind) of anything Pew (or EDF, CLF, Oceana, Lenfest etc.) claim about fishing qualifies for the category of downright bunkum. “Endangered Species” based on shakey agenda driven “science” is the way they make their money in contributions and at the same time do the bidding of the Oil-igarchs and their long term goals of clearing off the outer continental shelf and building there an Industrial Water Park. Quite a racket these oil barons have established.

    They (Pew, Lenfest, Oceana, EDF, etc.) are presently working on eliminating the East Coast Menhaden fishery (aka Bunker, Pogies) after going after West Coast sardines recently. It’s all part of the “save the forage fish” campaign, another strategy to shut down all the fisheries they can. It’s a relatively recent anti-fishing angle and bogus as usual, the forwarded article below explains some of their lies and manipulations. They’ll be out for our Squid and Scup and Whiting soon, which more or less fall into the same category of the boom and bust type species.

    Actually, I believe “Forage” is any fish that a larger fish can get into his/her mouth. The fish that Pew is calling “forage”, i.e., Menhaden, Herring, Sardines, Anchovy, Squid, and Mackerel, Scup, and Whiting, are most of the time amazingly abundant. But, their populations vary along with everything else in nature, i.e. variations in wind, currents, air and water temperature food supply, spawning conditions, abundance of a particular predator.

    http://www.savingseafood.org/alerts/providence-journal-analysis-finds-pew-environments-menhaden-claim-mostly-f-2.html

    These fish are prolific breeders when conditions are right. They are short lived and populations go through boom and bust naturally. These stocks can vary widely and have done so forever; and because of this fact, population statistics can be selectively manipulated by choosing a particularly scarce or abundant year to “prove” statistically just about anything. Squid for instance live for approximately one year; but, when conditions are good their eggs cover the bottom and are so thick they’ll plug the net and almost stop the boat. The following year’s spawn might be a fraction of the previous year’s for a myriad of factors, the least of which is fishing mortality.

    The fact is that fishermen cannot work on depleted stocks. When a particular species is scarce, boats will either stay at the dock, or re-rig for something else, another species that’s abundant that year or that season. The fact is also that fish regulation is big business, bigger than the business it claims to regulate. The more alarming the claims, the more the tax-sheltered contributions flow, from both the duped general public and the overlord corporate boards and the more relevant the hoards of “fish management” jobs at NOAA appear.

    The real tragedy is that these NGO shysters have discredited the entire ecological movement, the need for which is becoming more evident every day in terms of climate and air quality etc. But these scam artists at Pew are the oil companies, the polluters, so they certainly won’t bite the hand that feeds them and engage some of the real threats to the atmosphere. They’ll continue to go after the fishing communities, the “little people”, who are real easy to catch.

  2. borehead - Moderator says:

    Dick that as always is a fantastic look at the foundation funding- oil driven anti fish machine..
    I will be reading that book, thank you!
    I just got it in the mail!

  3. Dick Grachek says:

    http://www.boem.gov/Oil-and-Gas-Energy-Program/Leasing/Five-Year-Program/2012-2017/Program-Area-Maps/index.aspx

    http://www.boem.gov/uploadedFiles/BOEM/Oil_and_Gas_Energy_Program/Leasing/Five_Year_Program/2012-

    2017/Program_Area_Maps/Lower%2048%20State%20Planning%20Areas%20with%20restrictions.pdf

    These oil CEO’s would like to bring back the Monarchy. Steve Coll’s book is provoking to say the least—the oil shysters are creating more upset on this planet than I ever imagined.

    Dept of Interior is in
    bed(literally)with the oil Barons.

    • borehead - Moderator says:

      I am offended by Ken Salizars lack of ethics.
      I will be reading that book. I need to stay agitated!
      Thanks for all the links!

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