“While the Commission has finally acknowledged the need to place
limits on factory fishing in the Chesapeake Bay,” said John
Hocevar, Greenpeace oceans specialist, “this is a coastwide problem
that requires a coastwide solution. The limit set by the ASMFC
does not go far enough to protect menhaden populations, coastal
ecosystems, and the fishing jobs that depend on them.”
The cap set by the ASMFC limits
factory fishing of
menhaden to 105,800 metric tons per year in the Chesapeake Bay
– a level higher than fishing giant Omega Protein landed in 2004.
Greenpeace, along with many other environmentalists and fishermen,
called for a coastwide moratorium on the fishery.
Houston-based Omega Protein, the largest fisher of menhaden in
the country, has a proxy from a Virginia State Senator to sit on
the menhaden board of the ASMFC, allowing it to vote against any
and all measures to protect the species. At today’s meeting, the
company’s allies introduced a meaningless “voluntary cap” at more
than 30 percent above current levels of fishing. Just days
earlier, Omega Protein had announced that it would voluntarily
“limit” its catch at this level in an attempt to head off official
action by the Commission. The industry proposal was debated and
voted down.
At the same time, in a review of comments submitted to the
Commission by the public, the ASMFC reported that more than 20,000
people urged it to establish a coastwide moratorium. However, the
Commission refused to even discuss the moratorium option.
“What message does it send to the public when the majority view
is ignored and ruled out of order by the Commission?” asked Mr.
Hocevar. “At public hearings up and down the East Coast, fishermen
turned out to tell the ASMFC that the large and plentiful schools
of menhaden they used to see were now few and far between. As long
as the ASMFC continues to operate under Omega Protein’s thumb, the
future of our coastal ecosystems and economies will be sacrificed
for short-term profits.”
On July 23, Greenpeace held a peaceful
protest on the waters in front of Omega Protein’s facility in
Reedville, Va. Then on August 9, Greenpeace boats
dispersed schools of menhaden before Omega Protein’s factory
fishing boats were able to capture them in their nets.
