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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, FEBRUARY 5, 2010
PRESS CONTACT, TINA BERGER, 202/289-6400
ASMFC Approves American Shad Amendment
States Water Fisheries to be Closed by January 1, 2013 unless
Sustainability is Demonstrated
Amendment Promotes Catch and Release Recreational Fisheries
Alexandria, VA - The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission has
approved Amendment 3 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for
Shad and River Herring (American Shad Management). The Amendment
establishes a coastwide commercial and recreational moratorium, with
exceptions for sustainable systems. Sustainability is determined through
state specific management plans, and applies to systems that demonstrate
their commercial and/or recreational fishery will not diminish the
potential future stock reproduction and recruitment. The Amendment allows
for any state or jurisdiction to keep their waters open to a catch and
release recreational fishery. States or jurisdictions without an approved
sustainability management plan in place by January 1, 2013 will be closed
(with the exception of catch and release recreational fisheries).
The Amendment was developed in response to the findings of the 2007
benchmark stock assessment for American shad, which indicates that American
shad stocks are currently at all-time lows and do not appear to be
recovering. It identified the primary causes for the continued stock
declines as a combination of excessive total mortality, habitat loss and
degradation, and migration and habitat access impediments. Although
improvement has been seen in a few stocks, many remain severely depressed
compared to historic levels.
To improve data collection, the Amendment implements additional required
fisheries-independent and dependent monitoring for some states or
jurisdictions. This includes monitoring of juvenile and adult American shad
stocks; hatchery production; and commercial, recreational, and bycatch
fisheries. Additionally, the Amendment increases coordination of monitoring
activities for river systems under shared jurisdictions, as well as between
freshwater and marine agencies. The Amendment also promotes collaboration
between the Commission and the New England and Mid-Atlantic Fishery
Management Councils as the Councils work to develop bycatch reduction
strategies for shad and river herring though Amendment 5 (Atlantic Herring)
and Amendment 14 (Squid, Butterfish and Mackerel).
American shad were once considered the most important commercial food fish.
Along with river herring, American shad are a valuable cultural and social
resource with many community festivals occurring during the spring spawning
migration. As a forage fish, American shad play an important ecological
role in freshwater, estuarine, and marine environments.
The Amendment will be available by mid-February via the Commission's
website at www.asmfc.org under Breaking News or by contacting the
Commission at (202) 289-6400. For more information, please contact Kate
Taylor, Fishery Management Plan Coordinator, at (202) 289-6400 or at
ktaylor@asmfc.org.
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