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Comment on American Eel Management Plan
#1
The following is the text of a news release from the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

Plese note that this press release revises the September 9, 2008 press release by adding FLFWCC's hearing information and changing MD DNR's hearing date from the October 6th to the 1st. All other information remains the same.

American Eel Draft Addendum II Approved for Public Comment

States Schedule Hearings for September and Early October

Washington, DC - The Commission's American Eel Management Board has approved the release of Draft Addendum II to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for American Eel for public comment. The Draft Addendum proposes a number of management options to facilitate an increase in the number of adult American eel (also known as silver eel) that are able to out-migrate to the ocean and spawn. Specific options include gear and size restrictions, seasonal closures, and recommendations to protect the upstream and downstream migration of American eel.

Atlantic coastal states have scheduled their hearings to gather public comment on the Draft Addendum. The dates, times, and locations of the scheduled meetings follow:

Maine Department of Marine Resources<br />
September 25, 2008; 6:00PM<br />
Natural Resources Service Center<br />
(Behind Maine Department of Marine Resources)<br />
6 Beech Street<br />
Hallowell, Maine<br />
Contact: Terry Stockwell at (207) 624-6553

September 29, 2008; 6:00PM<br />
Ellsworth City Hall (Auditorium)<br />
1 City Hall Plaza<br />
Ellsworth, Maine<br />
Contact: George Lapointe at (207) 624-6553

New Hampshire Fish and Game<br />
October 15, 2008; 7:00 PM<br />
Urban Forestry Center<br />
45 Elwyn Road<br />
Portsmouth, New Hampshire<br />
Contact: Doug Grout at (603) 868-1096

Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection<br />
September 24, 2008; 7:00 PM<br />
DEP Marine Fisheries Office<br />
333 Ferry Road<br />
Old Lyme, Connecticut<br />
Contact: David Simpson at (860) 434-6043

New York Dept. of Environmental Conservation<br />
September 30, 2008; 6:00 PM<br />
Bureau of Marine Resources Headquarters<br />
205 North Belle Mead Road, Suite 1<br />
East Setauket, New York<br />
Contact: Steve Heins at (631) 444-0433

New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife<br />
October 7, 2008; 8:00 PM<br />
Division of Fish and Wildlife<br />
Marine Enforcement Office<br />
Route 9, Mile Post 51<br />
Port Republic, New Jersey<br />
Contact: Tom McCloy at (609) 292-7794

Delaware Dept. of Natural Resources and Environmental Control<br />
October 6, 2008; 7:00 PM<br />
Richardson and Robbins Building Auditorium<br />
89 Kings Highway<br />
Dover, Delaware<br />
Contact: Roy Miller (302) 739-9914

Maryland Dept. of Natural Resources<br />
October 1, 2008; 6:00 PM<br />
Tawes State Office Building<br />
C-1 Conference Room<br />
Annapolis, Maryland<br />
Contact: Keith Whiteford at (410) 643-6785

Virginia Marine Resources Commission<br />
September 17, 6:00 PM<br />
2600 Washington Ave, 4th Floor<br />
Newport News, Virginia<br />
Contact: Jack Travelstead at (757) 247-2247

Potomac River Fisheries Commission<br />
September 23, 2008; 6:30 PM<br />
222 Taylor Street<br />
Colonial Beach, Virginia<br />
Contact: A.C. Carpenter at (804) 224-7148

North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries<br />
October 9, 2008; 6:00 PM<br />
943 Washington Square Mall<br />
Washington, North Carolina<br />
Contact: Jim Vasslides at (252) 948-3878

South Carolina Dept. of Natural Resources<br />
October 14, 2008; 6:00 PM<br />
Santee-Cooper Auditorium<br />
1 Riverwood Drive<br />
Monks Corner, South Carolina<br />
Contact: Bill Post at (843) 953-9821

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission<br />
October 9, 2008; 6:00 PM<br />
St. Johns River Water Management District<br />
4049 Reid Street (Hwy 100 West)<br />
Palatka, Floria<br />
Contact: Bill Sharp at (850) 487-0580

The Board initiated the Addendum due to continued concern for the American eel population. While the status of the stock is uncertain, the latest stock assessment information indicates the abundance of yellow eel (a juvenile life-stage of the American eel) has declined in the last two decades and the stock is at or near low levels. Further, relative abundance is likely to continue to decline unless mortality decreases and/or recruitment increases. As such, the primary management objective of the Draft Addendum is to facilitate escapement of silver eel on their spawning migration with the intent of halting any further declines in juvenile recruitment and eel abundance.

Fishermen and other interested groups are encouraged to provide input on the Draft Addendum, either through attending public hearings or providing written comments. The Draft Addendum will be available on September 11, 2008, copies can be obtained by contacting the Commission at (202) 289-6400 or via the Commission's website at www.asmfc.org under Breaking News. Public comment will be accepted until 5:00 PM on October 16, 2008 and should be forwarded to Kate Taylor, American Eel FMP Coordinator, 1444 'Eye' Street, NW, Sixth Floor, Washington, DC 20005; (202) 289-6051 (FAX) or at comments@asmfc.org (Subject line: American Eel). For more information, please contact Kate Taylor at (202) 289-6400 or ktaylor@asmfc.org.

*************************<br />
Tina Berger<br />
Public Affairs Specialist<br />
Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission<br />
1444 I Street. NW, Sixth Floor<br />
Washington, DC 20005<br />
Phone: (202)289-6400<br />
FAX: (202)289-6051<br />
Email: tberger@asmfc.org<br />
www.asmfc.org

ASMFC Vision: Healthy, self-sustaining populations of all Atlantic coast fish species or successful restoration well in progress by the year 2015.

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