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Date: April 03, 2007 at 00:10:14
From: BillS, [cache-dtc-ac16.proxy.aol.com]
Subject: Rhode Island Menhaden


I recently came across an article in the April 2007 Sport Fishing magazine about the bill being put forth to ban netting Menhaden in the Bay. I live in NJ and we have been succesful in stopping the netting of Menhaden off our coast. I cannot begin to tell you what this has done for our Striped Bass fishing. All of the 50 and 60 pound Bass you read about being caught each spring here in NJ is a direct result of our having Menhaden. Without this important resource you would not hear of catches like we have here. I hate to say this but it has become routine for us to catch a 50 pound Bass each and every spring since the Menhaden net ban. I spent my whole life trying to catch a fifty and after having caught many now have my sights on a sixty. Several have been caught each year also as a result of the ban on commercial fishing for Menhaden.

Those of you who know me have heard this from me time and time again. I have said it to the point that I think no one cares, or at least enough to do something about it. This is a huge oppurtunity for RI, but it will not come easy. It was not easy for NJ either. The political stars are aligned and the recreational fisherman must act to finish this once and for all.

There are two environmental groups that are sponsoring the bill. They are the Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association (www.risaa.org) and Save the Bay (www.savebay.org). I have nothing to do with either of these organizations, worse I know nothing of them. I can tell you this though, THEY HAVE THE RIGHT IDEA!

Anyone who wants to see the results of saving Menhaden should visit NJ this spring to see for yourself. You will not be sorry.

Get involved. Do something. Join or support these groups. Write your politicians, let them know that you vote and feel passionately about this cause. Contribute some money to help(I know heaven forbid). Your Menhaden are being harvested primarily for lobster bait. Let the commercial guys find something else to use. Maybe lobsters like chicken. The commercial guys are putting energy and money to keep being able to kill your Menhaden. This is your chance to put an end to it.

Apathy will be the death of our way of life.

Captain William Stevens

Apa


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