The Small, But Mighty Menhaden
http://thekojonnamdishow.org/shows/2013-01-02/small-mighty-menhaden
Menhaden, or pogy, is a fairly small fish that's been getting a lot of attention. Not typically eaten by people, it's a major food source for many fish we do eat -- striped bass and bluefish -- along with a number of marine mammals. It's also a hot commercial commodity, an ingredient in products ranging from animal feed to nutritional supplements, many worry is being over-fished. We talk about new catch quotas and the menhaden's place in the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem.
Guests
Chris Moore
Senior Scientist, Chesapeake Bay Foundation
Darryl Fears
reporter, Washington Post
Ben Landry
Director of Public Affairs, Omega Protein, Inc.
Comments
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Both sides have credence to their arguments but are also ideological . There needs to be a large Menhaden fishery as a basis for sport fishing in the bay and the oil industry is critical to the economics of the northern neck particularly Reedville, where 400 jobs make Omega the largest employer.. To date the scientific research has been less than robust.
enough to make good decisions.
The current agreement will get us through this year politically, while better data can be gathered. One of the options which should be considered if the data warrants it is , cutting back further on the catch for a few years to let the fishery grow while subsidizing the Menhaden fishermen and industry at their current level till the fishery is restocked and then setting a reasonable annual catch. This precedent for this type of subsidy is similar to existing subsidies for limiting corn or wheat growth, but if there is a need for cuttting back the Menhaden catch further the subsidy should be time bound and ecologically and economically justified. . The subsidy would end when the fishery is restocked. This way the economy of the area would not be impacted while the fishery was restocked. Neither Omega or the fishermen should have to suffer for policy that is for the common good in the long run.
The immediate steps that appear to be needed are:
1. Lets get better data on the impact of the Menhaden fishing both on the Menhaden stock and other fish. There should be an ongoing high quality research program run by the states departments of fish and game and the university overseen by a comissions. Last years Menhaden data was inadequate.
2. Decide by an interstate agreement on the best policies for Menhaden Limits. as well as common compact for other chesapeake bar fish such as rock fish and blue fish (different states currently have different limits which causes problems between the states and the size of the fisheries. The bay should be treated as a common resource.
This problem can be dealt with fairly and rationally so that Menhaden and other fisheries will thrive and remain central to the ecosystem of the bay and the economy of the region.
In addition thought should be given to policies such as subsidizing the increase the aquaculture of oysters to keep the bay clean so other species are sustainable.
Thank you for your discussion on the demise of menhaden. Having fished the Chesapeake Bay since 1957, I like any other long-time recreational fisherman can affirm the obvious and drastic reduction in the number of these fish in over the last several years. Striped bass are starving. Many of the fish I have caught over the last few years, and especailly this year, are underweight for their length and have ugly sores. This has been "studied" for years; but like so many things when it comes to taking care of our natural resources we wait to long to take act. The overfishing of this important fish in the food chain must be reduced signifcantly if we are to correct the damage that it is causing to the life of the bay. Please keep this issue before you listeners.
While I can certainly feel for the people who will eventually lose their jobs, it is the fault of Omega for being so greedy in the first place. 400 jobs are not worth the consequences that will follow if we continue to overfish the menhaden and the oceans in general.
While further study is certainly required no one can honestly stand here and say that the stocks are not in serious trouble. Anyone who has been around the ocean for any length of time is fully aware of the severely declining stocks brought about by Omega. We need to stop be such a reactive nation and for once be proactive.