The opinion piece by Dick Russell (Conservation is Essential to Save the Striper, Vineyard Gazette Oct. 31) misinforms readers concerning the actions of Omega Protein. His anecdotes and claims regarding the menhaden fishery were clearly not fact-checked, resulting in an error-laden piece on an otherwise important issue — sustainable fisheries management.
The opinion piece by Dick Russell (Conservation is Essential to Save the Striper, Vineyard Gazette Oct. 31) misinforms readers concerning the actions of Omega Protein. His anecdotes and claims regarding the menhaden fishery were clearly not fact-checked, resulting in an error-laden piece on an otherwise important issue — sustainable fisheries management.
Mr. Russell inexplicably reorders past events to suggest that Omega Protein increased its fishing efforts in response to menhaden harvest reductions first mandated in 2012. The new vessels he references were purchased in August of 2011, well before the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) took any actions to decrease commercial menhaden quotas. The vessels were commissioned not to increase fishing efforts, but were instead part of a larger undertaking to modernize our Atlantic fleet, making it safer and more environmentally friendly. Since 2011, Omega Protein has decommissioned three older vessels and transferred one to our Gulf operations, resulting in a net decrease of fishing capacity in the Atlantic.
In addition, his statements that menhaden are “the time-honored food of choice” for striped bass, and at populations “less than 10 per cent of historic levels,” have both been tested and disproved. In 2007, the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) studied striped bass in the Chesapeake Bay and found that menhaden composed only a portion of the stripers’ diet. The study concluded that menhaden represent only about eight per cent of the species eaten by striped bass. In 2012, the Pulitzer Prize-winning group PolitiFact fact-checked statements from the Pew Charitable Trusts claiming menhaden numbers have “plummeted by 90 per cent” and found this statistic to be “mostly false.” Menhaden populations have naturally fluctuated over the 50-plus years for which population data is available. In order to claim a 90 per cent reduction in the stock, Pew and Mr. Russell cherry-picked data from 1982 when the menhaden stock was at its second highest reported level of abundance, and compared it to recent years when populations were at levels comparable to those recorded in the 1960s.
By providing inaccurate information, Mr. Russell does a disservice to both the Vineyard Gazette and its readers.
Ben Landry
Reedville, Va.
The writer is director of public affairs for Omega Protein.
Comments
Experience indicates that
Bill Murphy Manteo, NCExperience indicates that when you have lots of menhaden you have lots of striped bass. Yours truly, Bill murphy
For those that have lived
Bill BartlettFor those that have lived around the Chesapeake Bay for a number of years and observed the menhaden, know that the vast number of schools of menhaden are no longer visible.
It's great for Omega's public
Capt. Paul Eidman Menhaden Defenders, New JerseyIt's great for Omega's public affairs officer to interject and correct. You are doing your job Mr. Landry.Sort of. While you are at it, you may want to do a better job at making a your company into a better steward of the resource.
Last Decembers landmark ASMFC decision took a number of factors into consideration before granting your company a majority 80% share of what is left of the Atlantic coasts Menhaden biomass.
It would be great if you would relinquish a couple of tons here and there for your fellow waterman that are struggling to catch bait while you maintain business as usual.There is no reason for Omega to continue to reap the benefits of having the majority of the share while others go out of business.
Go ahead and continue to point fingers at poor data and changed migration patterns. Get out of the office once in awhile and go meet with a few pound netters on the Chesapeake bay right out your own front door. Meet some New England folks and ask them where all the pogies went. Ask a few marina owners in Florida and Georgia why they haven't seen any schools of adult bunkers in a decade.Ask a few surf fisherman along the entire coast when the last good fall peanut (immature) bunker run was.
Those of us on inshore waters from Maine to Florida witness the effects of menhaden depletion on a daily basis. How can you and the other Omega top brass be so blind to your fellow Americans on the water? Put your shareholders and profits aside for once and do the right thing.Some moderation and less selfishness can go a long way.
Capt. Paul, I am a Menhaden
Leo Robbins Reedville VaCapt. Paul, I am a Menhaden Defender here in Reedville Va.and Have been since 1982 when I first stepped on board a Menhaden fishing vessel. My Father asked me to be in his crew with my two older brothers that fished 5 years before me.You see Capt. Paul, My entire family has Defended Menhaden since 1958 when my Father stepped on board a fishing vessel. In that 55 year period, there were some good seasons, there were some bad seasons. That's just the way fishing goes. We always had fish. They weren't where we always wanted them. Some years the Bay was full of fish. Other years we had to run as far as New England to find good fish. The bottom line is we always caught fish and made a living. Menhaden are very abundant in Atlantic waters. If fisherman in N.J. and Maryland are not catching fish, don't blame Omega Protein. When I go Rock fishing here in the Bay, I don't always catch fish. Sometimes I have to wait until after New Years and go down to Va.Beach to catch my fish.
Capt. Paul
charles williamsCapt. Paul
Instead of Mr. Landry contacting me to be informed, I believe that you sir are lacking in knowledge of the menhaden industry. When you speak of pound netters at "your front door", you most certainly are including me. My nets are as close to Omega Protein as anyone's (one mile). 2013 was the most productive year for menhaden that I have seen since getting into the pound netting business. Unless you would like for me to bolster Omega's case, then you probably should direct Mr. Landry to someone else.
Absolutely sincerely,
Charles Williams
Pound Netter
Reedville, Va.
The accounts of menhaden
Wendelin Giebel Long IslandThe accounts of menhaden schools as far as the eye could see, in all directions , exist in the log books of Long Island menhaden boats in the 1800's . This fish stock has been systematically reduced to less that one percent of its historic ( unfished) biomass. The ASMFC is bound by their own mandate to rebuild the fish stocks it has been trusted to manage. It has failed in its mission with the river herring and has collapsed the largest fish stock in the lower forty eight states. This is with paid fisheries scientists, peer reviewers, mathematical models, fully paid staff etc,etc. The federal government should step in as it did with the Pacific sardine . The NMFS has failed , as this collapse is crippling our coastal fisheries dependent upon this enormous food supply. Additionally this ecocidal management may violate the Marine Mammals Protection Act as our coastal marine mammals also depend on these menhaden and are being deprived of an enormous part of their diets.
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