Menhaden. It’s a small fish that makes its home along the Atlantic coast and that other fish love to eat. Unfortunately, humans love it too.

Help us collect 40,000 comments before the Nov. 2nd deadline by taking action now.

We like to grind it up, put in pet food and stick it in fish oil supplements. So much so, that this once abundant fish is in serious trouble. If something isn’t done soon to stop the overfishing of menhaden, the entire Atlantic coastal ecosystem could be in danger.

That’s why right now the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) is considering changing the way they manage menhaden. As part of the process, they have opened up public comments. They don’t often hear from the public on this issue. Which is why we are hoping to overwhelm them with support by generating 40,000 comments before the deadline.

This is our chance to show broad public support for ending the overfishing of menhaden and preserving the Atlantic ecosystem. But the comment period closes in just 48 hours.

 

Tell the ASMFC to protect the menhaden and protect the Atlantic ecosystem by taking action right now.  WWW.GREENPEACEUSA.ORG

Menhaden have been called “the most important fish in the sea.” They are critical to the Atlantic marine ecosystem as prey for other fish and wildlife such as striped bass and ospreys. Millions of recreational anglers depend on a healthy coastal ecosystem to support the populations of striped bass, bluefish, and other species recreational fishermen love to catch. Without menhaden the Atlantic fishing industry—and the 63,000 jobs it supports—could collapse.

Unfortunately, that’s a real possibility. Overfishing of Atlantic menhaden has been going on for over 25 years and the population is on the brink. Scientists estimate that only 8% of the original menhaden population exists today. We have to act now to protect the menhaden and the entire Atlantic ecosystem.

Don’t wait. There are just 48 hours left to submit a comment to the ASMFC and protect the Atlantic ecosystem.

Greenpeace has been working on overfishing around the globe for twenty years, and we’ve been working on protecting the menhaden now for almost a decade. I attended a public hearing in Virginia this month, and delivered my comment in person. The hearings are stacked with industry insiders, so your voice is crucial for us to successfully reform menhaden management.

This is our chance to finally protect the species once and for all. If the menhaden population collapses, our entire Atlantic ecosystem and the fish and birds of prey that depend up on it will collapse as well. We can’t let that happen.

Submit your comments now before it is too late.

For the Oceans,

Phil Kline
Greenpeace Senior Oceans Campaigner

P.S. Forward this email to anyone in your address book who cares about the fate of the world’s oceans. The more comments we can generate in the next 48 hours, the better the chance we can protect the menhaden and the entire Atlantic ecosystem.