December 7, 2012 —
Atlantic menhaden fishermen, and those in supporting industries, are some of the hardest working folks on the Atlantic Coast. And the menhaden fishery is one of the oldest, continually operating fisheries in the nation. For more than a century, residents of small, blue collar towns along the coast have relied on the Atlantic menhaden to provide for their families and communities. In the rural Northern Neck region of Virginia, where the menhaden reduction fishery is housed, the industry contributes approximately $80 million in economic output annually, and provides hundreds of jobs, as well as scores of others in supporting industries. Further north, in New Jersey and elsewhere, the fish is a premier source of bait for other fisheries. As with the Northern Neck, the loss of a menhaden supply to these operations could produce an economically crippling result.
This week, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) – the regulatory body overseeing management of Atlantic menhaden – is poised to impose cuts on menhaden harvest levels that could threaten the livelihoods of those who depend on the menhaden fishery. But even as their deliberations quickly approach, the scientific findings on which these cuts would be based remain heavily contested. Many experts are concerned about a lack of conclusive scientific findings regarding the status of the menhaden stock. In short, scores of blue collar jobs could be cut without a conclusively agreed upon scientific justification.
Along the Atlantic coast, seemingly disparate groups are banding together in support of the menhaden fishery, and urging the ASMFC to avoid a discordant decision. From local NAACP chapters to labor unions (and Democrats and Republicans alike), those who understand the importance of this fishery to local, already-struggling economies are concerned for the future of this vital industry.
Should the ASMFC adopt especially harsh harvest cuts, as many in the environmentalist community are urging, the results for these small towns could be devastating. In the Northern Neck alone, it is estimated that a collapse of the fishery would yield a 14.0% decline in economic output and a 8.1% decline in employment, respectively.
We hope that you will stand with us in support of these hard working families and communities.