The Marine Fish Conservation Network (an alliance which includes NCMC) has released a letter signed by 92 U.S. scientists calling on the National Marine Fisheries Service to revise how annual catch limits are set for key forage fish. Forage fish serve as the primary food source for many predator fish, marine mammals, and seabirds. Examples of forage fish include herring, krill, menhaden, pollock, sardine and squid.
"Fisheries management has not yet addressed the fundamental question of how large-scale removal of fish biomass affects marine ecosystems," said Tim Ragen, a scientist with the Marine Mammal Commission. "In view of their critical role in marine ecosystems, and the great uncertainty about the effects of their removal, forage fish warrant precautionary management."
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is currently re-writing its fishery management regulations prescribing how fishery managers should set catch levels for U.S. fish populations.
"NMFS has an opportunity now to provide fishery managers with long-needed guidance on setting catch limits within an ecosystems context, with emphasis on protecting the ocean food web," said Ken Hinman, president of the National Coalition for Marine Conservation. "It's a once-in-a-decade chance to fundamentally change how we manage forage fish species to make sure ocean fish and wildlife have enough to eat," Hinman added.
