Stripers Forever - we are focused on striped bass gamefish, but from time we will bring a closely related issue to the attention of our members. Gamefish or not, stripers need something to eat. There are those that believe that stripers are more susceptible than they might otherwise be to diseases like the mycobacteriosis we talked about last night, because of poor nutrition. Filter-feeding menhaden may also be helpful to water quality within the Bay. We have forwarded to you this e-mail message and urge you to let your thoughts be known. Brad Burns
> NCMC EMAIL ACTION NETWORK
> Striped Bass/Menhaden
>
> 3/1/04
>
> TELL THE MENHADEN MANAGEMENT BOARD TO PROTECT MENHADEN IN CHESAPEAKE BAY!
>
> The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's Menhaden Management
Board will meet on March 11, 2004 to consider next steps in the management
of the Atlantic menhaden fishery.
>
> It is crucial that you let the Menhaden Management Board hear from you
now!
>
> Please write to the chair, Mr. Jack Travelstead, with a short and simple
message.~ Urge that the Board begin immediately the process of amending the
fishery management plan for Atlantic menhaden with specific measures to
ensure an adequate supply of forage for striped bass and other predators, as
well as to preserve the menhaden's critical role as a filter feeder of
excess nutrients in coastal waters.
>
> The current menhaden plan contains no management measures to prevent
localized depletion of menhaden in Chesapeake Bay, even though the numbers
of small, forage-size menhaden have declined during the last decade.~ The
current menhaden plan contains no management measures to make sure there are
enough menhaden in the Bay to serve their important role as prey for
numerous predators, including rockfish, bluefish, loons, osprey and other
wildlife.
>
> Mail or fax your letter today, to register your personal support for
conservation amendments to the Atlantic menhaden plan.
>
> Mr. Jack Travelstead
> Chair, Menhaden Management Board
> Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission
> 1444 Eye Street, N.W., Sixth Floor
> Washington, DC~ 20005
>
> Fax (202) 289-6051
>
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