The Battle to Save Menhaden Continues….

by Phil Kline

April 10, 2012

Take action to save menhaden!

Thanks to you and more than 91,000 other concerned members of the public, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission passed a precedent-setting conservation measure to protect menhaden.

But now comes the next, and more difficult step in the process the one where the ASMFC actually figures out how they are going to do it.

Massive companies, like Omega Protein, want to see business continue as usual and are using their influence to push the Commission to delay action for up to another ten years. We’ve come too far already to let that happen.

The Atlantic ecosystem cannot wait any longer! Send your comments today and urge the ASMFC to make menhaden management a priority now.

Menhaden has been overfished for more than 50 years, and the population is at an all-time low. Further delays could spell disaster for the species as well as the entire Atlantic coastal ecosystem.

Companies aren’t concerned about the long term health of our oceans. All they care about are short term profits. It’s up to us to protect this important species and the ecosystem that relies on it.

The April 20th deadline is quickly approaching and there isn’t much time. Help us make sure the ASMFC does the right thing and creates a plan for real menhaden conservation solutions before the upcoming fishing season.

If the Commission can make a decision before this October, there will be a solid plan in place before the 2013 fishing season begins. That would give menhaden populations a chance to bounce back in just three years.

Thanks for speaking up for one of the most vital fish in the Atlantic ecosystem!

— Phil Kline, Greenpeace Oceans Campaigner

Phil Kline

By Phil Kline

Phil is a senior oceans campaigner at Greenpeace USA. He is a recognized expert on oceans policy domestically and internationally, and has represented Greenpeace U.S. at International Whaling Commission (IWC) meetings and Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission meetings around the globe.

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