A service of Salisbury University and University of Maryland Eastern Shore
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Fisheries Commission Reviews Menhaden Regulations

crreative commons

DOVER, Del. (AP) - Delaware officials are hosting an Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission public hearing on proposed changes to the interstate management plan for Atlantic Menhaden.

Wednesday evening's hearing in Dover involves a proposal to allow two licensed commercial fishermen to harvest up to 12,000 pounds of menhaden bycatch when working from the same vessel and fishing with stationary, multi-species gear, limited to one vessel trip per day.

Currently, the bycatch limit is 6,000 pounds per vessel per day. 

Officials say it's common in the Chesapeake Bay for two fishermen to work together from the same vessel in net fishing, allowing them to pool resources for fuel and crew.

But the current rules do not allow multiple individuals to fish from the same vessel and each land up to 6,000 pounds of menhaden.

Don Rush is the News Director at Delmarva Public Media. An award-winning journalist, Don reports major local issues of the day, from sea level rise, to urban development, to the changing demographics of Delmarva.