The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC), coastal states of Maine through Virginia, have scheduled hearings to gather public input on Draft Addendum II to Amendment 3 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Menhaden.
The Draft Addendum considers options to reduce the Chesapeake Bay Reduction Fishery Cap (Bay Cap) by up to 50% and distribute the cap more evenly throughout the fishing season. The current harvest cap for industrial fishing inside the bay is 51,000 metric tons annually.
ASMFC officials stated that the options aim to alleviate a concentration of effort that may be affecting other fisheries within the Bay and other potential ecological impacts. The options are aimed at Omega Protein and Ocean Harvesters of Reedville, the only reduction fishery firms on the east coast.
