A Benefit For Anglers

A firsthand look at the conservation act that focuses on the upkeep of the species that make up the bottom of the marine food chain to increase and sustain those sportfish who feed on them. See how these fisheries, and anglers, will only benefit from this new legislation.

“Forage fish like menhaden, river herring, and shad are the foundation of the marine food web. These fish serve as prey for popular sportfish, such as striped bass, speckled trout, and bluefin tuna, as well as iconic species like osprey, bottlenose dolphins, and humpback whales.

Shad and river herring, in particular, used to support some of the largest and most important commercial and recreational fisheries along the Atlantic coast, but habitat loss from dam construction and stock depletion from overfishing have decreased herring and shad landings by 96 percent since 1950. Meanwhile, billions of pounds of menhaden are commercially harvested by a single foreign-owned company to be “reduced” into livestock feed, fish oil, fish meal, fertilizer, and other products.”

Read more at TRCP.org.

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