The following was released by Senators Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins: WASHINGTON, D.C. – December 21, 2011 — U.S. Senator Olympia J. Snowe, Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries and Coast Guard, and Senator Susan Collins today received a response from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) on their request to extend the public comment period deadline for river herring. The National Marine Fisheries Services is currently conducting a formal review of river herring population, including alewife and blueback herring, and considering whether the species should be listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Public comments were originally due by January 3, 2012, but have now, as the Senators requested, been extended to February 3, 2012.
In a letter to Eric Schwaab, Assistant Administrator for Fisheries at the National Marine Fisheries Service, on December 14th, Senators Snowe and Collins wrote such a listing “would have a very costly, burdensome, and unnecessary effect on many entities in Maine, including Maine lobstermen and fishermen who use river herring as bait…” The Senators requested the deadline be extended to provide affected stakeholders with additional opportunity to comment, and that the agency consider the success that Maine has had in river herring recovery before reaching a decision.
Senators Snowe and Collins said:
“We are pleased the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has responded to our request and extended the public commenting period for the possible listing of river herring as an endangered species. Maine programs are already producing results in river herring population and habitat recovery, and the Maine Department of Marine Resources currently has a sustainable river herring management plan in place that has proven effective in increasing river herring populations. We will continue to work with officials at the federal level to ensure NMFS has comprehensive picture of the role river herring play in Maine’s ecosystem and economy.”
The text of the Senators’ December 14th letter is as follows:
Eric C. Schwaab
Assistant Administrator for Fisheries
National Marine Fisheries Service
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
1315 East-West Highway, Room 14636
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Dear Assistant Administrator Schwaab:
We are writing to express our concern with the potential listing of alewife and blueback herring, collectively known as river herring, as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS).
We understand that the NMFS was petitioned to list river herring as threatened under the ESA, and that in response NMFS “find[s] that… the petitioned action may be warranted.” Such a finding would have a very costly, burdensome, and unnecessary effect on many entities in Maine, including the Maine lobstermen and fishermen who use river herring as bait, and any public or private entities that may “touch” water where river herring are present.
Maine programs are already producing results in river herring population and habitat recovery. The Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR) currently has a sustainable river herring management plan in place that has proven effective in increasing river herring populations. This management plan, approved by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, includes ongoing habitat restoration and improvement, fish passage construction, stocking, transfer programs, and catch limits. Maine is regarded as having the best model for managing river herring, as the populations are recovering at a stable rate. For example, in the Kennebec River alone, the river herring population has expanded to three million and continues to grow.
When considering the successes Maine has had in river herring recovery, we have serious concerns with a potential ESA listing for this precious fish resource. River herring are an effective source of bait for Maine fishermen who already adhere to river herring catch restrictions, as prescribed by the Maine DMR management plan. In addition, 18 river fish-runs are currently managed by the Maine DMR where river herring are sustainably harvested by commercial fishermen. A listing of river herring will eliminate these commercial fisheries that supply a very valuable bait source for commercial lobstermen and fishermen, and would mean certain economic hardship for an already struggling Maine fishing industry.
Given the economic impact that a listing would have, we respectfully ask that you extend the period for public comment to provide affected stakeholders with additional opportunity to comment. This is an appropriate precaution that will not affect the agency’s ultimate determination, but will result in the agency’s ability to consider a more comprehensive picture of the role river herring play in Maine’s ecosystem and economy.
River herring are thriving in Maine and are assisting in keeping a vital industry alive. As you review the status of river herring, we ask that you carefully consider the successes of existing safeguards in states like Maine and assess the potential economic impact and regulatory burden that listing river herring may have in this region.
Contact:
Brandon Bouchard (Snowe), 202-224-5344
Kevin Kelley (Collins), 202-224-2523