April 12, 2013 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission.
Arlington, VA – Atlantic coastal states from Maine through Georgia have scheduled their hearings to gather public comment on Draft Addendum III to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for American Eel. The dates, times, and locations of the scheduled meetings follow.
Maine Department of Marine Resources
April 30, 2013; 1 – 5 PM
Augusta Armory
179 Western Avenue
Augusta, Maine
Contact: Terry Stockwell at 207.624.6553
New Hampshire Fish and Game
April 15, 2013; 7 PM
Urban Forestry Center
45 Elwyn Center
Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Contact: Doug Grout at 603.868.1095
Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries
April 23, 2013; 6 – 8 PM
Bourne Public Library Meeting Room
19 Sandwich Road
Bourne, Massachusetts
Contact: Nichola Meserve at 617.626.1531
Rhode Island Division of Fish and Wildlife
May 1, 2013; 6 PM
URI Narragansett Bay Campus, Corless Auditorium
South Ferry Road
Narragansett, Rhode Island
Contact: Phil Edwards at 401.789.0281
New York Dept. of Environmental Protection
April 22, 2013; 7 – 9 PM
Marine Resources Office
205 North Belle Mead Road, Suite 1
East Setauket, New York
Contact: Steve Heins at 631.444.0436
April 25, 2013; 6:30 – 8:30 PM
Port Jervis Free Library
138 Pike Street
Port Jervis, New York
Contact: Steve Heins at 631.444.0436
New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife
May 2, 2013; 7 PM*
Atlantic County Library
Galloway Branch
306 Jimmie Leeds Road
Galloway, New Jersey
Contact: Russ Allen at 609.748.2020
*Hearing to immediately follow Marine Fisheries Council meeting which starts at 4 PM.
Delaware Dept. of Natural Resources & Environmental Control
April 11, 2013; 7 PM
DNREC Auditorium
89 Kings Highway
Dover, Delaware
Contact: John Clark at 302.739.9914
Maryland Dept. of Natural Resources
April 18, 2013; 6 – 8 PM
Maryland DNR Fisheries Service
Tawes State Office Building, C1 Conference Room 580 Taylor Avenue
Annapolis, Maryland
Contact: Keith Whiteford at 410.643.6776
Potomac River Fisheries Commission
April 25, 2013; 6:30 PM
222 Taylor Street
Colonial Beach, Virginia
Contact: Ellen Cosby at 804.224.7148
North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries
April 24, 2013; 6 PM
943 Washington Square Mall
Highway 17
Washington, North Carolina
Contact: Garry Wright at 252.948.3864
South Carolina Dept. of Natural Resources
April 30, 2013, 6 – 8 PM
Santee-Cooper Auditorium
1 Riverwood Drive
Moncks Corner, South Carolina
Contact: Bill Post at 843.953.9821
Georgia Coastal Resources Division
April 29, 2013; 5:30 PM
John W. Stevens Wetlands Education Center
240 Cedar Street
Richmond Hill, Georgia
Contact: Jim Page at 912.264.7218
The Draft Addendum proposes a wide range of management options with the goal of reducing mortality and increasing the conservation of American eel stocks across all life stages. Specific management options focus on both the commercial (glass, yellow, and silver eel life stages) and recreational American eel fisheries. The document also proposes increased monitoring by the states and recommendations to improve American eel habitat.
Draft Addendum III responds to the findings of the 2012 benchmark stock assessment indicating the American eel population in U.S. waters is depleted. The stock has declined in recent decades and the prevalence of significant downward trends in multiple surveys across the coast is cause for concern. Causes of decline are likely due to a combination of historical overfishing, habitat loss, food web alterations, predation, turbine mortality, environmental changes, toxins and contaminants, and disease.
Commercial regulations vary by state. Glass eel fisheries currently occur in Maine and South Carolina. Significant yellow eel fisheries occur in New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, the Potomac River, Virginia, and North Carolina. Although commercial fishery landings and effort in recent times have declined in most regions, current levels of fishing effort may still be too high given the depleted nature of the stock. States and jurisdictions are required to annually report on commercial harvest and monitor juvenile abundance. The recreational fishery is currently regulated by a 50 fish per day creel limit and a six inch size minimum, although recreational harvest is believed to be low.
Fishermen and other interested groups are encouraged to provide input on Draft Addendum III by either attending public hearings or providing written comments. The Draft Addendum is available here. The public comment deadline is 11:59 PM (EST) on May 2, 2013 and should be forwarded to Kate Taylor, Senior Fishery Management Plan Coordinator, 1050 N. Highland St., Suite 200 A-N, Arlington, VA 22201; 703.842.0741 (FAX) or at comments@asmfc.org (Subject line: American Eel). Final action on the Addendum is scheduled to occur in May. For more information, please contact Kate Taylor at 703.842.0740.