Take Action Tuesday: Herring Meetings

Take Action Tuesday.  Go to one of these events in New England and New Jersey if you can.  Herring and healthy seas need your help.  "Alewife and blueback herring (known together as river herring) nurture the marine and freshwater ecosystem as food for many mammals, birds and other fish," according to the Herring Alliance.

These are fisheries meetings open to the public.  Showing up and supporting herring, just saying something in support of sustainable herring fishing helps.  Plus, it's energizing to be involved even a little; a fresh breeze in the too-common ill winds of marine conservation.  Also, the meetings themselves are interesting.  It's a chance to see into the process.  No, not like sausage-making of legislation.

Here's some suggestions on what to talk about from the Herring Alliance: 

Please make your views known at one of the public hearings being held across New England throughout this month. Voice your support for common sense solutions like having federal observers on all trips by these industrial vessels, requiring them to provide their entire catch to these observers for inspection instead of dumping huge amounts of it unseen, and enacting an overall limit on the amount of river herring they can catch and kill each year. Our fishery managers need to hear from you!

Wednesday, March 14, 7-9 p.m., Gloucester, MA
MA Division of Marine Fisheries, Annisquam River Station, 30 Emerson Ave.

Thursday, March 15, 7-9 p.m., Portsmouth, NH
Sheraton Harborside Hotel, 250 Market St.

Monday, March 19, 7-9 p.m., Fairhaven, MA
Seaport Inn, 110 Middle St.

Wednesday, March 21, 7-9 p.m., Portland, ME
Holiday Inn by the Bay, 88 Spring St.

Tuesday, March 27, 7-9 p.m., Plymouth, MA
Radisson Hotel Plymouth Harbor, 180 Water St.

Wednesday, March 28, 7-9 p.m., Warwick, RI
Hilton Garden Inn, One Thurber St.

Thursday, March 29, 7-9 p.m., Cape May, NJ
Congress Hall Hotel, 251 Beach Ave.