Atlantic and Gulf Fishermen Call for an End to Industrial Forage Fishing
Are you a business owner? Join hundreds of other businesses in standing up to reduction fishing. Read our letter below and fill out the form to stand up for America’s coastal economies.
Atlantic and Gulf Fishermen Call for an End to Industrial Forage Fishing
On behalf of the recreational and commercial fishermen, fishing organizations and fishing-related businesses below, we call on all elected officials and decision-makers at the local, state, and national levels to end industrial-scale fishing for forage fish – such as menhaden, herring, and mackerel – in the Atlantic and Gulf of America.
These small fish are the foundation of healthy fisheries and strong coastal economies. Forage fish are what the recreational and commercial species we fish for eat. Striped bass, bluefish, tuna, redfish, tarpon, weakfish, cod, and flounder need healthy forage fish populations. They are also critical bait for commercial and recreational fishermen, including for our iconic lobster and crab fisheries. Seabirds, whales and dolphins depend on forage fish, too.
When forage fish are abundant, Atlantic and Gulf fisheries, ecosystems, and coastal economies thrive. Recreational fishing supports millions of American jobs and pumps billions of dollars into local economies through charter and party boats, tackle shops, marinas, and travel-related spending for transportation, hotels and restaurants. When managed responsibly, forage fish help sustain commercially valuable fish populations, fishermen, good-paying jobs, robust coastal economies, and a steady supply of healthy seafood.
Harvesting forage fish at industrial scales is wasteful and the impacts ripple through the food web, directly undermining our fisheries. Industrial reduction fishing uses spotter planes, chase-boats, and factory ships that scoop up huge schools of menhaden to turn them into meal and oil for pet food, salmon farms, and livestock feed. Industrial midwater trawlers tow massive nets that catch fish at unsustainable rates -- they crashed herring and mackerel stocks and massive bycatch has left river herring and shad at historic low levels.
Industrial forage fishing benefits a small number of foreign-controlled companies, leaving recreational and commercial fishermen, and coastal communities to deal with the economic and ecological fallout.
We are asking you, our elected officials and fisheries decision-makers, to:
End industrial-scale reduction fishing and midwater trawling for forage fish in the Atlantic and Gulf of America.
Prioritize forage fish as bait either left in the water for recreational gamefish and commercially valuable species, and to supply lobstermen and crabbers.
Enforce laws and policies ensuring forage fish are managed to benefit U.S. citizens.
Protecting forage fish for bait and their natural role in marine ecosystems is one of the fastest and most effective ways to help rebuild gamefish and commercial fish populations, improve fishing, help struggling lobster and crab fishermen, strengthen local economies, and keep our coastal waters healthy for future generations.
Sincerely,
Captain Willy Hatch, Charter Fisherman
President Cape Cod Charter Boat Association
Owner & Operator Machaca Charters
F/V Machaca
Falmouth, MA
Captain Stewart M. Rosen, Charter Fisherman
Treasurer Stellwagen Bank Charter Boat Association
F/V Nuts and Bolts
Braintree, MA
Captain Stewart M. Rosen, Charter Fisherman
Treasurer Stellwagen Bank Charter Boat Association
F/V Nuts and Bolts
Braintree, MA
Captain Doug Feeney, Commercial Gillnet Fisherman
President Chatham Harvesters Fishermen’s Cooperative
F/V Noah
Chatham, MA
Samuel Graham, President
Central Virginia Sport Fishing Association
Henrico, VA
Joe Albanese, President
Hudson River Fisherman’s Association
Cresskill, NJ
Steve Machalaba, President
HiMar Striper Club
Atlantic Highlands, NJ
John Toth, President
Saltwater Anglers of Bergen County
Rochelle Park, NJ
Captain Joe Stephenson
Great Bridge Fisherman’s Association
Great Bridge, VA
Ken Morse, Owner
Tight Lines Tackle
Sag Harbor, NY
John Bushell Jr., Owner
Betty and Nicks Bait and Tackle
Seaside Park, NJ
Captain Eric Morrow, Owner
Bounty Hunter Outfitters (tackle)
Fairhaven, MA
Captain Jeff Heyer, Owner
Cross Rip Outfitters (Flyfishing and Light Tackle)
Nantucket, MA
Captain Lynne Heyer, Owner
Cross Rip Outfitters (Flyfishing and Light Tackle)
Nantucket, MA
Craig Jobes, Co-Owner
Wego Bait and Tackle
Southold, NY
George Scocca, Owner
New York Angler Magazine
Centereach, NY
Eric Koch, Co-Owner
Peconic Water Sports
Southhold, NY
Captain Vinnie Calabro, Commercial Fisherman & Charter Fisherman
Karen Ann Charters
Brooklyn, NY
Captain Tyler MacAllister, Commercial Tuna & Charter Fisherman
Cynthia C. Charters
F/V Cynthia C. and Bottom Line
Mattapoisett, MA
Captain Dennis Chaprales, Charter Fisherman
Vice President Cape Cod Charter Boat Association
Predatuna Sportfishing
F/V Predatuna
Hyannis, MA
Captain John Richardson, Charter Fisherman
Trustee Stellwagen Bank Charter Boat Association
Boston, MA
Stacie Delzingo, Secretary
Stellwagen Bank Charter Boat Association
Boston, MA
John J. Bello, Co-Chair of Government Affairs
VA Saltwater Sportfishing Association
Virginia Beach, VA
Captain Pete Kaizer, Charter Fisherman
Owner/Operator Althea K Sportfishing
F/V Althea K
Nantucket, MA
Captain Jeff Heyer, Charter Fisherman/Guide
F/V Ceviche
Nantucket, MA
Captain Lynne Heyer, Charter Fisherman/Guide
F/V Sea Horse
Nantucket, MA
Captain Eric Morrow, Charter Party Boat Fisherman
F/V Bounty Hunter & Bounty Hunter II
Fairhaven, MA, South Yarmouth, MA, Compton, RI, Newport, RI
Captain Jason Bunar, Charter Fisherman
Owner/Operator KillDay Sportfishing
F/V KillDay
Marshfield, MA
Captain Brandon Dunlop, Charter Fisherman
Reel Distracted Fishing Charters
F/V Reel Distracted
Miami, FL
Captain Stanley Glaskin, Charter Fisherman
Polar Bear Charters
F/V Polar Bear
Scituate, MA
Captain Keith Baker, Charter Fisherman
Kelly Ann Charters, LLC
F/V Kelly Ann
Onset Charters, MA
Captain Sean Mallida, Charter Fisherman
F/V Reel Love
Cape Cod, Massachusetts
Captain Brad White, Charter Fisherman
White Cap Charters
F/V White Cap
Scituate, MA
Captain Mike Abdow, Charter Fisherman
Abdow’s Magic Charters
F/V Magic
Chatham, MA
Captain Mike Doak, Charter Fisherman
Eastwind Charters
F/V Eastwind
Osterville, MA
Captain Jeff Viamari, Charter Fisherman
Bad Influence Sport Fishing
F/V Bad Influence
South Yarmouth, MA, Newport, RI
Captain Wayne Bergeron, Charter Fisherman
Janine B Sportfishing
F/V Janine B II
Dennis, MA
Captain John Carty, Charter Fisherman
Cape Cod Bay Charters
F/V Lucky Lady II
Barnstable Harbor, MA
Captain Philip Caliri, Charter Fisherman
Lady J Sportfishing
F/V Lady J
Barnstable Harbor, MA
Captain Donald Parker, Charter Fisherman
Prime Rate Sportfishing Charters
F/V Prime Rate
Sesuit Harbor, East Dennis, MA
Captain Robert Hussey, Charter Fisherman
Erin-H Sportfishing
F/V Erin-H
Wellfleet, MA
Captain Christopher James, Charter Fisherman
Meat Wagon Charters
F/V Meat Wagon
Bass River, South Yarmouth, MA
Captain John Ciccariallo, Charter Fisherman
Grey Dolphin Sportfishing
F/V Grey Dolphin
Sesuit Harbor, East Dennis, MA
Captain Rich Wood, Charter Fisherman
Beth Ann Charters
F/V Beth Ann
Provincetown, MA
Captain Robert Tolley, Charter Fisherman
Windswept Charters
F/V Windswept
Sesuit Harbor, East Dennis, MA
Captain Ray Ransom, Charter Fisherman
Bass River Charters
F/V Lindsy Liz
Bass River, South Yarmouth, MA
Captain Jack Harney, Charter Fisherman
Savage Fishing Charters
F/V Savage
Bass River, MA
Captain Robert Todd MacGregor, Charter Fisherman
Mac-Atac Sportfishing
F/V Mac-Atac
Fairhaven, MA
Captain Matt Mullin, Charter Fisherman
Stick This Sportfishing
F/V Stick This
Hyannis, MA
Captain Michael Fowler, Charter Fisherman
Bad Dog Sportfishing
F/V Bad Dog
Dennis, MA
Captain Marc Genthner, Charter Fisherman
Just Do it Too Sportfishing
F/V Just Do It Too
Nantucket, MA
Captain Fred Tonkin, Charter Fisherman
Herbert T Sportfishing
F/V Herbert T
Nantucket, MA
Captain Bob DeCosta, Charter Fisherman
Albacore Charters
F/V Albacore
Nantucket, MA
Captain Carl Boise, Charter Fisherman
Topspin Fishing Charters
F/V Topspin
Nantucket, MA
Captain Brian Borgeson, Charter Fisherman
Absolute Sport Fishing
F/V Absolute
Nantucket, MA
Captain Josh Eldridge, Charter Fisherman
Starfish Charters, Inc.
F/V Monomoy
Nantucket, MA
Captain Jay Star, Charter Fisherman
Starfish Charters, Inc.
F/V Star Fish
Nantucket, MA
Captain Hal Herrick, Charter Fisherman
Nantucket Fishing Charters
F/V Lily
Nantucket, MA
Captain Tom Mleczko, Charter Fisherman
F/V Purple Water
Captain Tom Charters
Nantucket, MA
Captain Jason Mleczko, Charter Fisherman
F/V Jabb
Captain Tom Charters
Nantucket, MA
Captain Carl Danielson, Charter Fisherman
F/V Roccus
Captain Tom Charters
Nantucket, MA
Captain Nat Reeder, Charter Fisherman
F/V Priscilla-J
Captain Tom Charters
Nantucket, MA
Captain Richard Rongio, Recreational Fisherman
F/V Eagle
Duxbury, MA
Captain John Satterly
Owner Maritime Mayhem
Deltavilla, VA
Captain Mike Avery
Owner Seaduction
Hampton, VA
Captain Bill Pappas, Charter Fisherman
Owner Playin Hookey Charters
Virginia Beach, VA
Captain Richard Wasdin, Charter Fisherman
Owner Reel Blessed Charters
Newport News, VA
Captain Todd Beck, Charter Fisherman
Owner Knot Wish’n Charters
Newport News, VA
Captain Brad Foxwell
Owner Ches. Fishing Adventures
Nottingham, MD
Captain Craig Freeman
Owner Grading Scales Sportfishing
Poquoson, VA
Captain Joe Stephenson
Great Bridge Fisherman’s Association
Great Bridge, VA
Butch Pierce, President / Chair
Great Bridge Fisherman’s Association
Chesapeake, VA
Tom Wilcox
Owner Wilcox Bait & Tackle
Norfolk, VA
Captain Randy Dean
Owner Kona Sportfishing
Severna Park, MD
Captain Mason Hallock, Charter Fisherman
Owner Bay Hunters Charter Fishing
Shady Side, MD
Captain Ken Eschelman
Cape Charles Fishing Adventures
Cape Charles, VA
Captain Mark Galasso, Charter Fisherman
Tuna the Tide Charters
Grasonville, MD
Captain Matt Marceron, Charter Fisherman
U.S. Blues Chesapeake Charters
Harwood, MD
Captain Jeff Pop, Charter Fisherman
Vista Lady Charters
Dundalk, MD
Captain Brian Rice, Charter Fisherman
Owner Jersey Devil Charters
Seaside Park, NJ
Captain Dan Buckley, Charter Fisherman
Co-Owner Orient Star Charters
Wading River, NY
Captain Tom/TJ Buckley, Charter Fisherman
Co-Owner Orient Star Charters
Shoreham, NY
Captain Robert Rocchetta, Charter Fisherman
Owner Rainbow Charters
Southold, NY
Captain Richard Jensen, Charter Fisherman
Owner Nancy Ann Charters
Orient, NY
Captain Phil Kess, Charter Fisherman
Owner Fishy Business Charters
Orient Point, NY
Captain Craig Jobes, Charter Fisherman
Rarebreed Marine
Southold, NY
Captain Derek Grattan, Charter Fisherman
Owner Gratitude Charters
Southold, NY
Captain Micheal Bady, Charter Fisherman
Owner Captain's Table Charters
North Fork, NY
Captain Paul Dixon, Charter Fisherman
Dixon's To The Point Charters
East Hampton, NY
Michael Colby, Recreational Fisherman
Stellwagen Bank Charter Boat Association
Marshfield, MA