John,
Humpback whales—known for their dramatic breaches of ocean waves—depend on sustainable populations of energy-rich tiny fish like Atlantic menhaden. But sadly, one commercial fishing company has willfully violated catch limits of menhaden along the Atlantic coast, jeopardizing humpback whales from Maine to Florida.
Keep this company accountable and protect this vital ecosystem. Send Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross a clear message: Protect humpbacks by placing and enforcing a sustainable cap on menhaden fishing.
Menhaden attract the attention of all kinds of hungry wildlife including striped bass, bluefish, eagles, osprey, dolphins, and of course, whales. Menhaden once blanketed our coasts, but overfishing has led to dramatic declines. A Virginia company, Omega Protein, harvests the vast majority of menhaden in the Atlantic, breaking them down to be used in everything from dietary supplements to dog food and fertilizer.
Recognizing their importance to the ecosystem, a regional fisheries management body restricted harvest of menhaden in their most important nursery, the Chesapeake Bay. Omega openly violated this catch limit, putting at risk all of the wildlife along the coast that depend on menhaden.
It's time for the Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, who manages fishing regulations, to stop overfishing. Send a clear message to the Secretary: Place a moratorium on menhaden to halt their dramatic decline.
Whales are harmed by toxins in the water, plastic pollution, vessel strikes, and entanglement. But humpbacks have seen their numbers surge in unlikely places like New York City thanks in part to the recovery of menhaden and enforcement of legislation like the Clean Water Act. Continued declines in their food source are unacceptable—send a message for humpbacks now.
Humpback whales, puffins, and dozens of other species will benefit from your voice calling for the protection of one of their most important sources of food. Thank you for speaking out for marine wildlife today!
