Sportfishing groups will argue case before an independent adjudicator
The objections raised by sportfishing groups in opposition to certification of the industrial Atlantic menhaden fishery as a “sustainable fishery” are scheduled to be heard by an independent adjudicator on July 8 and 9.
In March, the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, Coastal Conservation Association, and American Sportfishing Association filed an objection—which was later combined with a similar objection raised by The Nature Conservancy and Chesapeake Bay Foundation—to the Marine Stewardship Council’s (MSC) recommendation that Omega Protein should receive a certification of sustainability for its U.S. Atlantic menhaden purse-seining operations.
Next week’s adjudication hearing is a significant step forward in the effort to ensure there is a healthy forage base for striped bass and other important sportfish in the Chesapeake Bay and all along the East Coast.
“To make it to the next stage of this process with a hearing and oral arguments is significant in that the independent adjudicator clearly recognizes that our objections have merit,” said David Sikorski, executive director of CCA Maryland. “The MSC process is not entirely predictable and has been criticized in the past as being far too aligned with commercial interests. We are encouraged that the very real concerns raised in our objection have had an impact.”
The recreational fishing community has long believed that Omega Protein’s relentless pressure on menhaden in the Chesapeake Bay, the primary nursery ground for striped bass and many other sportfish, has caused localized depletions of forage, leading to an increase in diseased, stressed, and skinny fish in the Bay. The TRCP, ASA, and CCA objected to many of the certification findings and scores, including one that would grant the certification of sustainability on the condition that Omega reach certain milestones over four years, and not because the operation can be considered sustainable now.
“Certifying the Atlantic Menhaden fishery as sustainable at this time could undermine efforts at the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission to establish management that considers the entire ecosystem,” said Whit Fosburgh, president and CEO of the TRCP. “Striped bass populations are shrinking and there is evidence that removal of forage has contributed to that. We should be making sure that conservation measures are being enacted now—not years down the road.”
In the past, the MSC’s impartiality has been questioned since it has been funded in part from royalties paid by the very seafood processors seeking to use the MSC ecolabel. Third-party certifiers are paid by the entity seeking certification, and if the certification is successful, those third-party certifiers often receive long-term contracts to monitor chain-of-custody of the products and update reviews of the fishery every five years. In other words, both the MSC and the third-party certifiers stand to benefit financially from a successful certification.
In 2011, the prestigious science journal NATURE published a sharp critique of the MSC process, claiming that after the signing of a contract between the MSC and Walmart, the number of certified seafood products skyrocketed.
“We are committed to participating in this process and raising the concerns of the recreational fishing community, because once the sustainable label is bestowed on a fishery, it will be much more difficult to make needed management changes to that fishery,” said Mike Leonard, vice president of government affairs at the American Sportfishing Association. “That is particularly perilous when certifying a fishery that targets a forage base on which so many sportfish depend.”
While it is not known what fees Omega has paid to the MSC to pursue certification, the TRCP, ASA, and CCA have been required to pay a £2500 (or roughly $3,150) “objection fee” to the London-based MSC to make their case in this next round of the process.
Learn more about menhaden and their role in the marine food web here.
1. When the Bill gets to the Senate will Mitch McConnell kill it?
2. Will Trump even look at the Bill? Mr. Trump will always say one thing and do something else?
There needs to be a movement where our elected officials represent the voters. The people get elected and then join group of demagogs running both state and federal governments.
Will our Montana Representatives support this? If not they are not fit to be in Montana!
I cannot support this 1.4 billion if it redirects existing money allocations to fisd, game, and parks funding.
The Republican Senators and Representatives have to step up and support this. What they do or don’t do will send a strong message about what they support and where their real agenda is. It is time for them to act and do the right. thing.
Conservation is of the utmost importance NOW!!! Our wildlife and or water depends on it…
We need to actively pursue recovering wildlife, esp salmon runs, but will we be able to as long as native people gill net and commercial fishing is so rampant?
time to act for conservation like Roosevelt, dingle and many others did
It is a sad time for people who care about conservation. Look, I’m a life long hunter and fisherman, but this situation we have in the congress is disgusting. Fact is (from where I’m sitting) Mitch McConnell and Donald Trump don’t give a rip about the environment. So all of you outdoorsman who own guns and vote for these jerks because they support the 2nd amendment (which I do also) might want to ask yourselves wgat their real interest is. Here’s a hint.$$$
Spot on! Greed is the guiding factor for most of our politicians as they look just short of their noses at everything–“What’s in it for me” thinking must stop.
Would love to see the actual bill in order to see what is actually written. Not that I don’t trust the Trcp, but sometimes they seem to confuse conservation with environmentalism.
Will TRCP start a petition or provide a link allowing us to contact our elected officials?
A great idea. Current situation is unsustainable-jacking up license fees. It’s not enough. And, yes, it won’t be easy given the current unenlightened political circus. those who support this legislation will probably take some punches. Would be good to have a champion, whatever his or her stipe, at the bully pulpit. Not holding my breath. Time to read “In the Arena “—again.
I would think that conservation is one place that we could put politics aside. Unfortunately the previous comments suggest otherwise. I am dissapointed to see this happen. We get enough of this talk everywhere else these days. If this gets to be the norm here I will not continue to support TRCP. I will shift it to other conservation groups. I dont need this
45 and all his cabinet members hate the environment. Their complete goal is greed and they will destroy anything for a fast buck. Republicans are not going to change. If you keep voting republican, this is what you get- filthy air, water and soil. No bees. No clean anything.
Our wildlife needs our protection. Let’s not make this a Trump bashing bandstand. Instead, write our elected officials and let them know the American people are behind this bill.
The partisan bickering is not helpful. How about saying something constructive like “can we start a petition to further this effort” or “what is the best way to individually contact the decision makers”?
How does TRC recommend we make our voices heard in the House and Senate? Can TRC make this easier by making a letter for us to forward and send links to our congressmen and Senators?
we desperately need this… please let me know who I need to contact or what I can do to help make it happen.
It’s time to stop looking for the “easy out.” A simple note to your Member of Congress telling him or her that you support the “Recovering America’s Wildlife Act” will suffice. As a former staff member for a state legislator I will tell you that form letters are not nearly as effective as a short note IN YOUR OWN WORDS. When you simply send on a letter written by some else it shows a lack of commitment and passion. Fight for it!
Good Lord man, let’s use this oppurtunity to bash the president. Why not keep quiet your political opinions and contact state representatives and tell urge them to pass it Thomas Doyle.