Open letter from ARK Bait Co. | |
Over the years Ark Bait has always negotiated in good faith and has fully cooperated with the sports fishermen and as a result, Ark Bait compromised by losing prime fishing areas in the Bay. A few years ago, the sports fishermen wanted the big reduction boats out of the Bay, now they want Ark Bait out. Again in 1999, we compromised and agreed to further closures in the bay. Last year, 2006, we agreed with RISAA to have an observer go in our airplane to get estimates of the quantity of fish in the bay, as well as estimates of the quantity when we left the bay. At the same time this agreement was being set up, May 10, 2006, John Torgan from Save the Bay, was expressing his opinions and judgments about getting the menhaden seiner out of the Bay.
RISAA and Save the Bay are now using the premise that the menhaden will clean up the Bay because they are filter feeders. This is not the case. Ark Bait does not fish on the smaller peanut bunkers that are the best filter feeders and not the larger adult menhaden. This has been testified by Kevin Friedland, Director of UMASS/NOAA COOPERATIVE MARINE EDUCATION AND RESEARCH PROGRAM BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON FISHERIES CONSERVATION, WILDLIFE AND OCEANS in the US HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
According to the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, which updated its stock status and management considerations in January, 2007, the Atlantic menhaden is not over fished and over fishing is not occurring on a coast wide basis. The ASMFC sets and implements the standards and requirements with biological, scientific and user group data and information. Ark Bait prides itself in complying with all federal and state laws regarding reporting, safety and conservation. Yet, all of the parameters that are currently in place would be discounted and ignored for a specific interest group.
Quahogs, clams, mussels, oysters and scallops are also filter feeders. Will this industry that is also vital to the economy of Rhode Island be next? Fish kills have occurred in the Bay as a result of the deplorable conditions of our Bays water. We are all aware of the pollution that is the cause of the conditions in the Bay. Stopping the seining of menhaden is not going to stop this. There are over fifteen families, full and part time, that rely on Ark Bait for their livelihood, as well as hundreds of honest, hardworking, year round lobster fishermen who depend on this source of bait to earn their living. Passage of this bill will also have a spiraling effect that will hurt the livelihood of others that provide services to the lobster industry, such as fuel, insurance, restaurants, markets, marinas and the list goes on.
The Rhode Island Lobster Association, Ocean State Fishermen?s Association, Tiverton Rod and Gun Club, various Charter Boat Captains, individual Commercial Rod and Reelers, bait shops, shore fishermen and individual sports fishermen, with no club affiliation, support our efforts.
Thank you,
Ark Bait Co.
141 Ocean Grove Ave.
Swansea, MA 02777
508-678-4161 |