The new regulations of plain bunker fish has sparked anger among fishermen of New Jersey as they said there is no need of have coastwide catch limits for the first time on the fish also know as mossbunker, or just plain bunker. Since the menhaden season will be promising groups like Menhaden Defenders want strong controls on the commercial fishery, the largest in terms of tons landed on the East Coast.
James Crouse of the Atlantic Highlands Environmental Commission, said that in Sandy Hook Bay, menhaden used to run strong from spring to fall, but now the fish trail off by late summer and the bay’s striped bass fishery has declined as well. Belford commercial trawler captain Richard Isaksen expressed the opposite impression saying that there is bulk menhaden and no need of regulations on bunkers.
The commercial catch is 80 percent taken by Omega Protein’s reduction fleet based in Reedville, Va., which distills the fish down to meal and oil used in industry, agriculture and omega-3 dietary supplements. More than 50 people from various fishing interests – recreational anglers to commercial bait seiners from Cape May and environmental activists – showed up for the public hearing that will shape new management measures for menhaden.
