EASTON, Maryland – – The Atlantic State Marine Fisheries Commission, which manages the menhaden fishery, held the hearing at Easton High School to take public comments on how it should manage proposed changes. The commission in November voted to reduce the annual harvest, and now must draft an implementation plan.
The commission released a public information document last month that provides an overview of five issues: a timeline to achieve a new mortality target, rules on catch reporting, management tools for both the recreation and commercial fisheries and De Minimis requirements.
De Minimis status essentially means a state with low menhaden landings could become exempt from the new requirements.
Mike Waine with the commission gave an overview of the public document, then took comments from 10 people at the hearing. The four watermen who commented three pound netters and one crab potter said they have had enough regulations.
Larry "Boo" Powley has had enough.
"We've lost and we've lost … you keep taking until there is nothing left. You're stealing my heritage from me," said Powley, a pound netter for the past 35 years, at a Monday night hearing on menhaden harvest reductions.
"I live in rural Maryland," the 59-year-old said. "What am I going to do, drive to Cambridge and welcome you to Walmart? You're killing us. You take these … I'm done. Where does it stop? People are getting tired of it."
"We're under so much pressure," said Captain Scott Todd, a crab potter and fifth-generation waterman in Dorchester County. Many crabbers rely on the small, silver, oily fish as bait, as do lobstermen up north. "If we're faced with 20 to 30 percent fewer (menhaden) available, it's a trickle down effect. It boggles my mind."
Read the full article at the Easton Star Democrat.