Upcoming Meetings
American Shad
The NYSDEC will be hosting a meeting on Tuesday, January 15, 2008 at 7:00 PM at the NYSDEC Region 3 office to talk about stock status and possible regulatory actions and to gain your input on options.
In October 2007, the Shad and River Herring Management Board of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC), of which New York is a member, decided to begin development of Amendment 3 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Shad and River Herring. Specific issues to be addressed in the new amendment include:
(1) using the targets and stock rebuilding goals identified in the 2007 shad assessment;
(2) restricting fisheries operating on stocks where mortality is increasing and abundance is decreasing; and
(3) limiting the expansion of directed American shad fisheries.
The Hudson River American shad stock falls in the group identified in number 2 above. Mortality on adult fish is very high and their abundance is decreasing. Shad catches in the commercial fishery have been declining on the Hudson for nearly two decades. New York is now reviewing options for restoring the Hudson's shad stock both in the river and in ocean waters. Among options are restrictions on the river commercial and recreational shad fisheries and future restrictions on sale of NY ocean bycatch of shad.
Any person fishing for American shad in New York (for example: individuals renewing a Marine commercial net permit for the Hudson River, or recreatioanl fishers) may face new restrictions in 2008.
Directions to Region 3 Office:
NYSDEC Region 3 Office 21 S. Putt Corners Rd., New Paltz, NY
From Exit 18, I-87 NY State Thruway, turn left at light after toll onto Rt. 299 west. At the next light turn left onto S. Putt Corners Rd. The DEC office is a quarter mile down on your right.
River Herring
States and jurisdictions from Maine through South Carolina have hearings to gather public comment on the Public Information Document (PID) for Amendment 2 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Shad and River Herring.Fishermen and other interested groups are encouraged to provide input on the PID, either through attending public hearings or providing written comments. Copies can be obtained by contacting the Commission at (202) 289-6400 or via the Commission's website at www.asmfc.org under Breaking News. Public comment will be accepted until 5:00 PM on January 28, 2007 and should be forwarded to Erika Robbins, Fisheries Management Plan, 1444 'Eye' Street, NW, Sixth Floor, Washington, DC 20005; (202) 289-6051 (FAX) or at comments@asmfc.org (Subject line: River Herring). For more information, please contact Erika Robbins at (202) 289-6400.
The PID and subsequent amendment are being developed in response to concerns regarding the status of river herring stocks. While many populations of blueback herring and alewife, collectively known as river herring, are in decline or remain depressed at stable levels, lack of fishery-dependent and independent data makes it difficult to ascertain the status of river herring stocks coastwide. Between 1985 and 2004, commercial landings of river herring dropped by 90% from 13.6 to 1.33 million pounds. In 2006, Commission member states reported river herring landings of approximately 1.4 million pounds. In response to declining stocks within their own waters, four states-Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and North Carolina-have closed their river herring fisheries. River herring stocks are a multi-jurisdictional resource occurring in both rivers and coastal waters. The PID has been developed to address these concerns by seeking public comment on whether the management program is adequate to ensure survival and enhancement of depressed stocks or the maintenance of presently stable stocks.
Following the initial phase of information-gathering and public comment, the Commission will evaluate potential management alternatives and develop a draft amendment for public review. Following that review and public comment, the Commission will specify the management measures to be included in the final amendment. A tentative schedule for the completion of the Amendment 2 is included in PID.
