ALASKA CALIFORNIA FLORIDA MID-PACIFIC NORTHEAST NORTHERN ROCKIES NORTHWEST ROCKY MOUNTAIN WASHINGTON, D.C. INTERNATIONAL April 30, 2015 Thomas A. Nies, Executive Director New England Fishery Management Council 50 Water Street, Mill 2 Newburyport, MA 01950 Appended below are the names of 13,424 individuals who have submitted public comments regarding the New England Fishery Management Council’s Atlantic Herring Amendment 8 scoping process.In addition to signing on in support of the following letter, 1,072 individuals of the total number have submitted personalized comments. The personalized comments start on page 3 and end on page 61. RE: Atlantic Herring Amendment 8 Scoping Comments Dear New England Fishery Management Council, Thank you for the opportunity to comment on this issue that is important for the marine ecosystem. I support the New England Fishery Management Council's (NEFMC) decision to explicitly account for Atlantic herring's unique role as a forage fish in the ecosystem when setting catch limits. Herring is a valuable public resource. I commend the Council for recognizing this as an ecosystem issue and engaging your ecosystem-based fisheries management (EBFM) experts. Although the NEFMC initiated Amendment 8, it is not simply a New England issue. During annual migrations, Atlantic herring journey as far south as North Carolina and as far north as Nova Scotia. Herring have always been an important part of the marine food web throughout their range, but they have become even more important with the decline of other forage species, such as river herring, shad, mackerel, and menhaden. Recent scientific research supports leaving enough forage fish like herring in the ocean to support not only their own population, but also viable populations of other species that depend upon them. Many herring predators are depleted, and keeping enough herring in the ocean will improve the chances of recovery for cod, tuna, whales, and seabirds. I urge the NEFMC to consider alternatives for Amendment 8 that are based on this latest scientific guidance for managing forage fish. Herring predators have tremendous economic as well as ecological value, contributing to the economy through commercial and recreational fishing for tuna, cod, and striped bass, as well as whale and seabird watching. The NEFMC should consider, and quantify to the best of its ability, this economic value, and recognize that it is dependent on abundant Atlantic herring during particular times of the year and in specific places in the ocean. Many predators are migratory--following prey and finding suitable habitat for mating, nesting, and growing. Amendment 8 should include alternatives that explicitly aim to keep Atlantic herring present in sufficient quantities when and where they are needed most by predators. Amendment 8 should also include options that curtail fishing incrementally as the Atlantic herring population declines, and that stop all fishing for herring below a minimum population level. Thank you again for embarking on a long-term, ecological harvest policy for the Atlantic herring fishery. This is a significant step toward developing EBFM, which is a stated goal of both the NEFMC and of the HEADQUARTERS 50 CALIFORNIA STREET, SUITE 500 SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94111 T: 415.217.2000 F: 415.217.2040 [email protected] WWW.EARTHJUSTICE.ORG National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Fisheries Service. I look forward to seeing the draft of the amendment with a full range of alternatives when the Council releases it for public comment. Thank you for your consideration, The Undersigned HEADQUARTERS 50 CALIFORNIA STREET, SUITE 500 SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94111 T: 415.217.2000 F: 415.217.2040 [email protected] WWW.EARTHJUSTICE.ORG Valerie Goodness 14228-1810 As a sustainability scientist my research shows that my colleagues have been proving for decades that industrial trawling the ocean for fish is the main reason for fisheries collapse and ocean floor demise. We proved this during the Senator Gorton war against PNW Tribal fishing rights. When is our government going to stand up to multinational corporations and protect America's public ocean trust. Philip Romano 11354-3244 As an avid recreational fisherman I understand the importance of having a steady source of feeder fish in the food chain. Herring as well as menhaden are essential to our ecosystem for many reasons, and they can easily rebound in numbers with proper management. Setting appropriate take levels should ensure a productive and profitable future for fish, commercial fisherman and recreational fishermen. Do not let greed of a few mega fishing corporations spoil the crop for all of us. Alahna Roach 04623 As an inhabitant of the Northeastern coast, I am gravely concerned about the sustainability of our ocean ecosystem. Please stop industrial trawlers from gouging the fragile systems that support a healthy and diverse population of fish, birds and marine mammals. Many other fishing industries depend on this balance as well. We must consider the broad and devastating implications of overfishing. Peggy Malnati 48331 As someone who grew up in Massachusetts, this is an issue I care about deeply. Gerrit Crouse 10960-2124 I write as an emeritus member of the American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS). Dorothy Bedford 08540-4077 As a homeowner in Rhode Island, I care about both our local New England fleet's current well-being and also the long term economic survival of the New England fishery. You must balance the two: if forage fish are gone, not much else can survive. AJ Schneller 12866-1632 As a marine policy researcher, ocean advocate, and advocate for the precautionary principle, I urge you to strongly consider smaller catch limits on Atlantic herring, and employ sound ecosystem science (EBFM) to allocate enough herring for marine species that rely on these fish for forage. Kirsten Browning 30033 As a New England native I understand the importance of fishing to the communities there that I love. We need to have a comprehensive policy that incorporates and satisfies all parties but most importantly leads to sustainable fishing for all as well! Thank you for reading my comment. Carolyn Shaw 06457-4111 As a New England woman, I am making a plea for the fish off the Atlantic coast. The Atlantic herring is a source of food for many other fish. We should consider the impact that its overfishing will make on the entire ecosystem.Thank you for reading my comment. Monique Abrams 11414 During annual migrations, Atlantic herring journey as far south as North Carolina and as far north as Nova Scotia. Herring have always been an important part of the marine food web throughout their range, but they have become even more important with the decline of other forage species, such as river herring, shad, mackerel, and menhaden. Recent scientific research supports leaving enough forage fish like herring in the ocean to support not only their own population, but also viable populations of other species that depend upon them. Many herring predators are depleted, and keeping enough herring in the ocean will improve the chances of recovery for cod, tuna, whales, and seabirds. I urge the NEFMC to consider alternatives for Amendment 8 that are based on this latest scientific guidance for managing forage fish. Thank you for reading my comment. Jerry Achtermann 22003 Thank you for reading my comment. This needs to be addressed, and soon. Rachelle Adam 02152-1215 The human ecological footprint is too heavy on Earth, and we're stamping out too many other species while the human population just keeps on increasing. But if we want to keep on feeding ourselves from the ocean, we have to stay within planetary limits. Herring are more than a commodity, they have an unique ecological function and this must be respected, otherwise, and finally, ecosystems will collapse and the oceans will stop functioning as a human resource for sustenance. Thank you for reading my comment. Lauren Adams 01938 There's no going back if we aren't wise now! Thank you for reading my comment. Susan Agrella 12518 we cant keep overfishing.. its not our right to deplete a species that are needed for food for other marine life.. its NOT all about us all the time. Frank Allen 03837-4649 Future generations will not thank us if we destroy their world. Barbara Alpert 05602 Thank you for reading my comment. It is important to think about the long term viability of the policies we develop now, both for the environment and the fishermen. Glen Anderson 98503 PROTECT ECOSYSTEMS!!! Manage for SUSTAINABILITY, not short-term exploitation!!! Valerie Anderson 66207 Please save the herring supply from being depleted in the Atlantic Ocean! They are critically important to the ocean not just to the fishing industry's bottom line. Thank you for reading my comment. Rosalind Andrews 37919 Thank you for reading my comment.We are killing our oceans. Sherry Applegate 08015-0014 Thank you for reading my comment.i think we should save all animals and stop doing anything to hurt them or we could loose everthing we know now Jane Armstrong 07871-1127 Preserve our environment. Thank you for reading my comment. Karla Artist-vilhauer 93722 Please impose catch limits on fishing. I do feel bad for the fishermen as this will decrease their quota and probably lower their income. However, if we continue to over-fish our oceans, then everyone will have a problem. Please be part of the solution! Maureen Ashe 11756-8900 I am a strong advocate of protecting Atlantic herring in the ocean for the many reasons listed below. Lynne Atherton-dat 22204-5816 We need to protect our ocean's ecosystem. When that's destroyed, it will be too late to do anything about it.