States and jurisdictions from Maine through South Carolina have scheduled their hearings to gather public comment on the Public Information Document (PID) for Amendment 2 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Shad and River Herring. The dates, times and locations of the scheduled meetings follow:

Maine Department of Marine Resources
January 2, 2008; 6:30 PM
Ellsworth City Hall
1 City Plaza
Ellsworth, Maine
Contact: Terry Stockwell at 207/624-6562

January 3, 2008; 6:00 PM
University of Maine
Machias Science Building
Route 1
Machias, Maine
Contact: Terry Stockwell at 207/624-6562

January 10, 2008; 6:00 PM
Lincoln County Communications Center
Route 1
Wiscasset, Maine
Contact: Terry Stockwell at 207/624-6562

New Hampshire Fish and Game
January 2, 2008; 7:00 PM
Urban Forestry Center
45 Elwyn Road
Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Contact: Cheri Patterson at 603/868-1095

Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries
January 8, 2008; 6:30 PM
Plymouth Harbor Radisson
180 Water Street
Plymouth, Massachusetts
Contact: Shannon Davis at 617/626-1621

Rhode Island Division of Fish and Wildlife
December 17, 2007; 6:00 PM
URI Narragansett Bay Campus
Corless Auditorium
South Ferry Road
Narragansett, Rhode Island
Contact: Phil Edwards at 401/789-7481

Connecticut Dept. of Environmental Protection
December 11, 2007; 7:00 PM
DEP Marine Headquarters
Boating Education Center
333 Ferry Road
Old Lyme, Connecticut
Contact: Eric Smith at 860/434-6043

New York Dept. of Environmental Conservation
January 7, 2008; 7:00 PM
21 South Putt Corners Road
New Paltz, New York
Contact: Andy Kahnle at 845/256-3072

New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife
December 11, 2007; 7:00 PM
Ocean County Administrative Building
101 Hooper Avenue
Public Hearing Room #119
Toms River, New Jersey
Contact:  Tom McCloy at 609/292-7794

Delaware Dept. of Natural Resources and Environmental Control
December 18, 2007; 7:00 PM
Richardson and Robbins Building Auditorium
89 Kings Highway
Dover, Delaware
Contact: Craig Shirey at 302/739-9914

Virginia Marine Resources Commission
December 17, 2007; 6:00 PM
2600 Washington Ave, 4^th floor
Newport News, Virginia
Contact:  Jack Travelstead at 757/247-2247

North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries
December 19, 2007; 7:00 PM
CMAST
303 College Circle
Morehead City, North Carolina
Contact: Louis Daniel 252/726-7021

Potomac River Fisheries Commission
December 20, 2007; 6:00 PM
John Thomas Parran Hearing Room
PRFC Building
222 Taylor Street
Colonial Beach, Virginia
Contact: AC Carpenter at 804/224-7148

South Carolina Dept. of Natural Resources
December 13, 2007; 7:00 PM
Santee-Cooper Auditorium
1 Riverwood Drive
Monks Corner, South Carolina
Contact: Bill Post at 843/953-9821

The PID and subsequent amendment are being developed in response to concerns regarding the status of river herring stocks. While many populations of blueback herring and alewife, collectively known as river herring, are in decline or remain depressed at stable levels, lack of fishery-dependent and independent data makes it difficult to ascertain the status of river herring stocks coastwide. Between 1985 and 2004, commercial landings of river herring dropped by 90% from 13.6 to 1.33 million pounds. In 2006, Commission member states reported river herring landings of approximately 1.4 million pounds. In response to declining stocks within their own waters, four states—Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and North Carolina—have closed their river herring fisheries. River herring stocks are a multi-jurisdictional resource occurring in both rivers and coastal waters. The PID has been developed to address these concerns by seeking public comment on whether the management program is adequate to ensure survival and enhancement of depressed stocks or the maintenance of presently stable stocks.

Following the initial phase of information-gathering and public comment, the Commission will evaluate potential management alternatives and develop a draft amendment for public review.  Following that review and public comment, the Commission will specify the management measures to be included in the final amendment.  A tentative schedule for the completion of the Amendment 2 is included in PID.  

Fishermen and other interested groups are encouraged to provide input on the PID, either through attending public hearings or providing written comments.  Copies can be obtained by contacting the Commission at (202) 289-6400 or via the Commission’s website at www.asmfc.org under Breaking News.  Public comment will be accepted until 5:00 PM on January 28, 2007 and should be forwarded to Erika Robbins, Fisheries Management Plan, 1444 ‘Eye’ Street, NW, Sixth Floor, Washington, DC 20005; (202) 289-6051 (FAX) or at comments@asmfc.org (Subject line: River Herring).  For more information, please contact Erika Robbins at (202) 289-6400.  

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