Thursday, April 30, 2015

Earthjustice - Take Action Today
TAKE ACTION! Stop industrial trawlers from threatening the ocean ecosystem Take Action
A hump back whale breaching in the Atlantic Ocean. (Jandrie Lombard / Shutterstock)
Protect humpback whales and other marine life by leaving enough herring in the ocean to feed them

Take action today.
Dear Bruce,
Currently, the limits on the number of Atlantic herring that can be caught are benefiting industrial fishing operations but threatening the Northeast’s ocean ecosystem. We need you to come to the rescue by taking urgent action now!
The New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC) is in the early stages of developing a policy to change the way catch limits are set for Atlantic herring, a keystone species in the marine ecosystem and an important food source for whales, seabirds, and bigger fish, such tuna and cod. The Council needs to hear from people who care about the ocean ecosystem, not just from the herring fishing industry.
Earthjustice has been fighting for more than a decade to protect our oceans from irresponsible fishing practices, pollution, and habitat destruction. Today, we need your help.
Other councils have recognized that forage fish need to be managed differently than other fish. Many marine species that depend on herring for food are struggling after long periods of overfishing and ecosystem disruption. New England managers must ensure that enough herring are left in the ocean—at the right time and in the right locationsto give these herring predators enough to eat and sustain their populations.
Herring predators aren’t just ecologically important; they also have economic value. Tuna fishing, commercial and recreational fishing for cod and striped bass, whale and seabird watchingall these activities contribute to the Northeast’s economy. The NEFMC should consider this economic value and recognize that these activities depend on an abundant source of Atlantic herring.
Thanks for taking action to save our oceans,
Staff photo
Erica Fuller
Sr. Associate Attorney
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