DNR to Hold Public Meeting on Menhaden June 29 in Annapolis

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ANNAPOLIS — The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Fisheries Service announced that the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) will be holding a meeting on Wednesday, June 29, at 7 P.M. at the Radisson Hotel in Annapolis to gather public comment on an addendum to the current menhaden management plan. The addendum includes options to limit the catch of menhaden in the Chesapeake Bay and along the Atlantic Coast while research is conducted to determine if localized depletion of menhaden is occurring in the Bay.

Last month, ASMFC developed a Draft Addendum to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic menhaden in response to concern regarding the possibility of localized depletion of menhaden stocks in the Chesapeake Bay. The Draft Addendum presents a suite of management options to limit the catch of menhaden in both the Chesapeake Bay and coastwide, including various harvest caps, timeframes, and gears.

The Draft Addendum also proposes initiating a research program immediately to determine the status of menhaden populations in the Chesapeake Bay and assess whether localized depletion is occurring. It identifies the following research priorities: (1) determine menhaden abundance in the Chesapeake Bay; (2) determine estimates of menhaden removal by predators; (3) evaluate the rate of exchange of menhaden between the Bay and coastal systems; and (4) conduct larval studies to determine recruitment to the Bay.

The Menhaden Management Board will meet in August to review public comment on the Draft Addendum and consider its final approval. Anglers and other interested groups are encouraged to provide input on the addendum either by attending public hearings or providing written comments. Copies of the Draft Addendum can be obtained via the Commission’s website at www.asmfc.org under “Breaking News” or by contacting the Commission at (202) 289-6400.

Public comment will be accepted until 5 P.M. on August 1, 2005 and should be forwarded to Nancy Wallace, Menhaden Species Coordinator for ASMFC. For more information contact Marty Gary, DNR Fisheries Service at (410) 260-8289 or mlgary@dnr.state.md.us.

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June 9, 2005

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to citizens and visitors. DNR manages more than 446,000 acres of public lands and 18,000 miles of waterways, along with Maryland's forests, fisheries and wildlife for maximum environmental, economic and quality of life benefits. A national leader in land conservation, DNR-managed parks and natural, historic and cultural resources attract 11 million visitors annually. DNR is the lead agency in Maryland's effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay, the state's number one environmental priority. Learn more at www.dnr.maryland.gov