The document discusses the overfishing of Atlantic menhaden, an important forage fish along the East Coast. It notes that overfishing has occurred in 32 of the last 52 years according to the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. The bulk of the menhaden catch is used for fishmeal and oil rather than bait. Reducing the commercial catch is important for the ecosystem and gamefish like striped bass that rely on menhaden as a food source. The ASMFC will vote in November on measures to end overfishing and better manage the menhaden fishery.

1. Reel Therapy Fly Fishing Light tackle Charters Capt. Paul Eidman [email_address] 732 922 4077

4. ATLANTIC MENHADEN “ The Most Important Fish in the Sea”

8. This past spring the ASMFC stated that overfishing is occurring in the Commercial Menhaden fishery. The study team determined that overfishing has been occurring 32 out of the last 52 years of this fishery! This is the first time in the History of the Menhaden fishery that there will be an attempt to end overfishing and put a hard cap on the amount of fish being taken out of our waters. The ASMFC is voting in November on this and as recreational anglers, we need to let them know how important this issue is to us.

9. Older, larger fish are more valuable and more sought after by both sectors. These same fish are more important to the ecosystem because they produce more eggs as they age and mature.

10. Problem: the latest stock assessment shows that overfishing is occurring on a coastwide basis and has been for 32 of the last 54 years! The stock is at an all time low. This is no longer a localized problem, this is a coastwide crisis.

11. TWO COMMERCIAL SECTORS: BAIT FISHERY (20%) REDUCTION FISHERY (80%)

12. Lobster First

14. Industrialization of our local fleets Purse vessel to left carries 45,000 fish Carrier Vessel to right carries 350,000 fish

15. With dramatic declines in the Atlantic herring fishery, the demand for fresh large adult menhaden is only going to get worse. The New England lobster industry is counting on menhaden for bait. Dozens of trucks leave New Jersey ports loaded with thousands of Bunkers destined for lobster traps each day.

17. With the aid of a spotter plane, fishing is easy. Entire schools are decimated in just one set.

18. Omega’s Fleet: 47 vessels and 34 aircraft

20. Every Year more than 100,000 metric tons of fish are scooped up along the East Coast. This is more than 200 million pounds of Menhaden. In recent years, 20% of the landings come from "bait" boats. The vast majority of the rest of the fish are caught for reduction purposes by one company based out of Reedville Virginia

21. Any idea how GREAT our fishing would be if there was no Omega to grind the Bunker up?

22. It takes 26 pounds of Fish meal to grow 1 pound of Bluefin Tuna

25. In the Chesapeake Bay, 70% percent of the striped bass have mycobacteriosis, (aka MYCO) with less menhaden in the bay, thousands of sick bass are struggling to survive

26. We all have concerns about the current health of the striped bass stocks. Juvenile recruitment has been low for a few years. With the current rate of decline of Menhaden stocks, the future does not look good at all for our favorite game fish.

27. Without plentiful adult and juvenile Menhaden to feed on, the future of Striped Bass is uncertain

28. Anybody remember Weakfish?

29. The future of our gamefish reduced to a bag of meal

30. 61% of Americas fish come from Asian Fish Farms

31. American Menhaden Fish meal is fed to the fish, and the fish are then sold back to us

32. From Tilapia to Tuna, many of the fish we eat are raised on Menhaden fish meal and oils

39. Pigs get to market faster on Menhaden based protien diets

40. Yes, even in the milk we give to our children and in the steaks that we eat

41. Take a good look at your pet food label, chances are it contains fish meal or fish oil from Menhaden

43. Costco’s “KIRKLAND Signature” brand Dog & Cat foods are made by Diamond Pet Foods a major client of OMEGA PROTIEN Just last year, Costco re evaluated all of its seafood products so that they were all sourced from “sustainable” fisheries. Yet, every bag they sell contains Menhaden Fish meal!

44. The ASMFC has a chance to end over fishing of menhaden. Its up to US, the Recreational fishing community to let them know that we are united together and deeply concerned about the current overfishing situation. We NEED them to change the way Menhaden are being commercially eliminated from the ecosystem and put a LIMIT on the total annual catch.

48. Reel Therapy Fly Fishing Light tackle Charters Capt. Paul Eidman [email_address] 732 922 4077

53. Menhaden fish oil on your Pharmacy shelf