Correspondence/Amendment 5 Comments - New England Fishery ...

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September 14,20II
Mr. Paul Howard, Executive Director
New England Fishery Management Council
50 Water Street
Newburyport, Massachusetts 0 1 950
RE: September Council Meeting: Atlantic Herring Agenda
Dear Mr. Howard:
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5. HERRING (Septembet 26-29, 201 I )-M
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NEW EhIGLAND FISHERY
MANAGEMENT COUNCIL
The New England Council is scheduled to take significant actions for improving management of
Atlantic herring when it meets on Septemb er 29'h, including providing input on the terms of
reference for a new benchmark stock assessment, and reviewing and approving draft
Amendment 5 and its Draft Environmental Impact Statement ("Amendment 5" or "DEIS"). On
behalf of the Herring Alliance, please accept these comments for consideration as the Council
deliberates on these important issues.
The Herring Alliance, now with 42 regional and national member organizations (member list
attached), is dedicated to the restoration and conservation ofpopulations offorage species,
including Atlantic herring and river herring, that are, or have been, vital components of the
forage base for our ocean and coastal marine ecosystems. Atlantic herring and river herring are
keystone species - forage fish that are central to the productivity and resilience of ecosystems,
and through this connection, support numerous fisheries and ecosystem-dependent industries
throughout New England and the Mid-Atlantic.
The current draft of Amendment 5 takes important steps to recognrze the importance of Atlantic
herring and river herring as forage fish, prioritize improvements to their science and
management, and include measures necessary to minimize the bycatch of non-target species
involved in the Atlantic herring fishery. We urge you act without delay to continue moving
these improvements forward by:
o Retaining the entire current suite of alternatives in the DEIS for public review and
comment immediately, so this important amendment can be brought to a close in time to
be implemented for the 2013 fishing year; and
r Recognizingthat the science and management guidance for forage species like Atlantic
herring has advanced significantly in recent years and drawing on this science as the
Council provides recommendations on the terms of reference for the upcoming
benchmark stock assessment.
Herring Alliance
59 Temple Place, Suite 1114, Boston, MA 02111
www, herrinqalliance.oro