mfcn spring 2006

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MARINE FISH CONSERVATION NETWORK

In this Issue...

Vol. 11, Issue 2June 2006

Letter from the

Executive Director

New Network Staff

Network’s Annual

Meeting

Fish Fest 2006

New Report on

Overfishing

New Report on

Bycatch

Mid-Atlantic Update

South Atlantic Update

Pacific Update

Gulf of Mexico

Update

New Network

Members

Calendar

The Marine Fish

Conservation Network (Network) is a coalition of

more than 190 environmental

organizations, commercial

and recreational fishing

associations, and marine

science groups dedicated to

promoting the long-term

sustainability of ocean fish.

The Network represents

nearly five million people.

Please visit:

www.conservefish.org

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Senate Passes Fisheries Reauthorization Bill,

House Moves Forward

N et w or k N ew sN et w or k N ew sN et w or k N ew sN et w or k N ew sN et w or k N ew s

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A decade ago, Congress

passed the Sustainable

Fisheries Act (SFA), and it

appears finally, that the

reauthorization of the

Magnuson-Stevens

Fishery Conservation and

Management Act (MSA)is a distinct possibility

this Congress. The final

outcome, however,

remains to be seen.

Senators Ted Stevens (R-AK) and Daniel

Inouye’s (D-HI) bipartisan-supported bill, S. 2012,

passed by unanimous consent on June 19.

During the first week in June all Senate

Republicans had cleared the bill, but several

Democrats had put holds on the bill while some of

the remaining issues were worked out. In general,

the Senate bill enjoys broad support, and with norollbacks to current law, represents a positive step

forward in our attempt to achieve sustainable

management of our nation’s fisheries. Of course,

the Network would like to see some aspects of the

bill strengthened, but it is hard to complain when

you consider what is happening on the House

side.

The climate in the House is markedly different.

Although several bills floated around the House,

the bill moving is the “American Fisheries

Management and Marine Life Enhancement Act,”

H.R. 5018, introduced by Resource Committee

Chairman Richard Pombo (R-CA) and

cosponsored by Don Young (R-AK) and Barney

Frank (D-MA). Although Pombo’s bill does

contain some positive improvements from the

May 17 mark-up and some important elements

regarding reform of the regional fisheries

management councils and the use of science in

management decisions, the bill as a whole would

represent a real regression in fisheries

management. First, the Pombo bill contains

rebuilding timeline extension provisions for

depleted fish. Second, the bill also contains the

much debated National

Environmental Protection

Act (NEPA) waiver, which

would exempt fishery

management councils from

developing a broad range

of alternatives for fishery

management plans and

would remove important

opportunities for public

participation. In addition

to eliminating these

rollbacks, the Network

would like to see many

other provisions included or strengthened,

including the establishment of an accountability

measure for overages to annual catch limits, publ

access to aggregate fisheries data, conflict of

interest provisions for both council and Science

and Statistical Committee members, and term limit

on quota programs.

So, 10 years after Congress passed significant

conservation improvements to fisheries

management, the House is poised to take giant

steps backward? The past decade shows that ou

fishery management system is flawed; many

councils have allowed continued overfishing in

many fisheries, and their attempts to rebuild stoc

have failed far too often. This is not the time to r

back current law; the outcome of this would be

both ecologically and economically devastating.

Congress must pass legislation that corrects som

of the problems contained in current law,strengthens regulations regarding overfishing,

upholds NEPA, and establishes strong standards

for limited access privilege programs.

As this legislation moves forward, the Network is

working hard to ensure that the introduced versio

of the Pombo bill is significantly strengthened.

The bill is fixable, and we hold out hope, but

without these necessary amendments, the Pombo

bill will represent a regression in law that in the

long run will not benefit fish or fishermen.

Lee Crockett testifies at a House Resources

SPECIAL EDITIO

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A Letter from the Executive Director

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For the fish and fishermen,

Lee R. Crockett

MARINE FISH CONSERVATION NETWORK

MARINE FISH CON SERVATION N ETWORK

An Inconvenient Truth

Many people have seen the documentary about Al Gore’s global warming slide show, “An Inconvenient Truth.” The former Vice Preside

has been talking about global warming for years and has dedicated much of his life since the 2000 election to educating the public about

global warming. After years of work, his efforts are paying off. It seems like a day does not go by without a print, radio, or television sto

about global warming. The media and the public are finally paying attention, but whether the government is remains unclear.

In the fish world, advocates and scientists have been talking about another inconvenient truth – we must end overfishing to rebuild

depleted fish populations. Sounds like common sense, doesn’t it? Not to federal fisheries managers. NMFS has proposed changing

federal law and regulations regarding rebuilding to allow overfishing for two years as part of a rebuilding plan. A NMFS spokesperson w

even quoted saying, “We can rebuild (fish stocks) while overfishing is occurring because unfettered, massive overfishing is not

occurring.” Overfishing is overfishing, and it must end if we want healthy fish populations.

Now comes a new scientific study by Dr. Andy Rosenberg and others (“Rebuilding U.S. Fisheries: progress and problems,” in press at

Frontiers in Ecology and Environment ) that documents the impact of government efforts to end overfishing and rebuild depleted fish

populations. The picture the authors paint is not a pretty one. Nearly 10 years after Congress told NMFS to end overfishing and rebuild

depleted fish populations, only 3 populations have been restored. We have 67 populations under rebuilding plans and 45 percent of thos

are still subjected to overfishing. The authors sum up the problem by saying “The clearest cause of the lack of progress in rebuilding is

the failure of many plans to reduce exploitation sufficiently to end overfishing.”

Congress has another chance to address this issue. Both the House and Senate Magnuson-Stevens reauthorization bills contain new

requirements for managers to set annual catch limits that prevent overfishing. That’s great. But what we really need is a way to enforce

these limits. The Senate has an enforcement mechanism in its bill that could be stronger, but the House has none. Hopefully, the finally b

that goes to the President will contain strong limits and a way to enforce them. As the Rosenberg study shows, we can’t leave it up to th

managers to get overfishing under control, Congress must step in again. That’s the real inconvenient truth.

Network’s New Staff

Amy Price,

Special Projects Intern

The Network’s new Special

Projects Intern, Amy Price,

started with us at the end of May.

A native of Maryland, Amy

graduated this past spring from

the College of William and Mary

with a B.S. in biology. In herclasses and travels she was

struck by the dire state of much of the world’s biodiversity and

decided she would focus her career on conservation. She spent her

previous summer working in an internship at the U.S. National

Arboretum, where she was introduced to the wide world of plants.

Amy hopes her new focus on fish will prove to be as much fun as

the plants (no sarcasm implied!). In her free time, Amy enjoys

kayaking and yoga. She plans to return to school next year to get

her Master’s in conservation ecology, but in the meantime is excited

to get some “real” experience in the conservation field.

Aaron Prebenda,

Media/Communications Intern

Aaron Prebenda signed on with

the Network as the new Media

Intern in May of 2006. He will be

an undergraduate senior this

upcoming academic term, majorin

in political science and minoring

philosophy at the School of Publ

Affairs at American University in

Washington, DC. Aaron comes from New Jersey and has always

had a fondness for the ocean. He recently became a certified PAD

Advanced Open Water Scuba Diver and, though not a regular

fisherman, enjoys going on occasional fishing trips with his family

His interest in political journalism and his dedication to

conservation brought him to this internship with the Network.

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On June 6, 2006, the Marine Fish Conservation Network held its annual meeting in Alexandria, VA. Around 100 members of the Network

met to discuss the upcoming reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and the Network’s

new ecosystem/multispecies-based fishery management initiative. Attendees enjoyed two excellent presentations, one on ecosystem/

multispecies-based fishery management by Dr. Ed Houde of the University of Maryland, and another by Margaret Bowman, director of

Lenfest Ocean Program on rebuilding U.S. fisheries.

Network members were treated to the debut of the Network’s new fishery management video, The Long View: A Plan to Save Our OceanFish – a 12-minute video exploring why we need to rely more heavily on sound science in U.S. marine fisheries management. The video

highlights the threats to marine fish populations, how declining fish populations have affected the fishing industry nationwide, and why

is important to protect fishing communities and the fisheries that they depend on. (To order a DVD of the Network’s video, please contac

us at 202-543-5509.)

Following the meeting on June 6th, Network members visited Capital Hill to speak with Members of both the House and Senate. Network

members discussed the consequences of proposed rollbacks to existing law during Magnuson-Stevens Act reauthorization, the need to

keep the Magnuson-Stevens and the National Environmental Policy Acts separate, and the need for strong standards for fishing quota

programs.

Network’s Annual Meeting 2006

Ivy Newman and Justin Massey

Caitlin Winans, Kate Simmons, and

Leda Cunningham

Tony DeFalco coordinates with Pacific Coast

members

Speaker Margaret Bowman and Lee Crockett

Bill Chandler and Stephanie Young

sign up for Hill visits

Dr. Ed Houde addresses the crowd

Katie Latanich,

Sarah Gallo,

Kasey Gallogly,

Roger Fleming,

and Aaron Viles

Dan Jacobson,

Amy Dickson, and

Bob Strickland

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Zeke Grader talks to

Congresswoman Grace Napolitano


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Fish Fest 2006

On June 8, 2006, the Network held Fish Fest 2006, a Celebration of Sustainable Seafood in the Cannon House Office Building on Capitol

Hill. Fish Fest celebrates fishermen who fish responsibly using methods that target select species, avoid overfishing, and protect essenti

fish habitat. The event also highlights Washington, D.C.’s finest chefs who prepare the sustainably caught seafood for Members of

Congress and their staff, Network members, and other ocean advocates.

This year more than 600 attendees enjoyed the savory, sustainably caught seafood from around the country. Attendees could also view

the Network’s newest educational video, The Long View: A Plan to Save Our Ocean Fish. Fish Fest allowed the Network to both heightawareness of America’s troubled oceans and recognize those fishermen and legislators who work hard to protect, restore, and conserve

marine fish.

The Network would like to thank the 22 Members of Congress who attended Fish Fest 2006 for taking time out of their busy schedules to

support the Network’s efforts.

A special thank you to all of the chefs and fishermen who generously donated their time and expertise, making Fish Fest 2006 a successfu

event celebrating sustainably seafood. All photographs unless otherwise stated are by Justin Schuck Photograp

Sara Randall, Jennifer Johnson, and

Congressman John Salazar

Tim Leahy, Dan Jacobson, Hope Lobkowicz, Erin

Grizzard, and Amy Hojnowski

Chef Rock Harper from B. Smith’s

Najah

Abdullah

and Peter

Huhtala

Congressman Lloyd Doggett, Celeste Drake, and

Alex Reed

Congressman Henry Waxman

Tom Wheatley,

Jo Knight, and

Jason

Schratwieser

Photo by Network Staff

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Congressman Mike McIntyre

and Congressman Steve King

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• Marvin and Annette Bellamy

• Bering Select Seafoods Company

• Paula Terrel and Dick HofMann

• Eat on the Wild Side

• Columbia River Crab Fishermen’s Association

• Washington Dungeness Crab Fishermen’s Association

• EcoFish

• Oregon Dungeness Crab Commission

• Oregon Trawl Commission

• KoosKooskie Fish

Thank You to the Fish Providers

• Rebecca Byrnes, Viridian

• Geoff Tracy, Chef Geoff’s

• Rock Harper, B. Smith’s

• Barton Seaver, Café Saint-Ex

• Lejon Williams, Catering by Chef Inc.

• Jeff Buben, Bistro Bis and Vidalia• John Miller, Art Institute of Washington

• Alex Zeppos, Growlers of Gaithersburg Restaurant

and Brewery

• Teddy Folkman, The Reef

• Lloyd Banks, J. Paul’s

Thank You to Our Participating Chefs

Rich Innes and Lee Crockett

Congressman Jim Moran talks to other Fish Fest

attendees

Ashley Couch and Anna Pickler from

The Reef

Christian Barnes and Mary Austill Lott

Letise Houser,

Jacob Maccoby,

and CongressmanSam Farr

Tony DeFalco

an d

Congressman

Gil Gutknecht

Kristen Bossi, Lori Sonkin, Gerry Leape and

Roberta Elias

Photo by Network Staff

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Network’s Report, Shell Game , Uncovers Lack of Progress with Overfishing

The Network released a new report on March 29 documenting the National

Marine Fisheries Service’s (NMFS) finessing of data presented to Congress

on the status of the nation’s fisheries. The report, entitled Shell Game: How

the Federal Government is Hiding the Mismanagement of Our Nation’s

Fisheries, reveals that through some administrative shuffling, NMFS hasbeen able to veil a complete lack of progress in reducing the number of

fisheries that are overfished or are currently experiencing overfishing.

In 2001, only 13 percent of the nation’s fisheries could be considered health

by 2004, this percentage had not improved. The Network’s report exposes

that 60 percent of the overfished stocks and 75 percent of the stocks

experiencing overfishing between 2001 and 2004 were taken off the list due t

administrative shuffling, thereby creating a superficial veneer of managemen

success for NMFS’ annual report to Congress. According to Shell Game,

NMFS also continues to

allow overfishing to occur on

nearly half of the nation’s

overfished stocks, thuspreventing these depleted

fish populations from

recovering.

“NMFS has not been clear

with Congress or the

American public because it

consistently finesses the data to mask management failures from year to year,” said Lee

Crockett, executive director of the Network. “We need to take a hard look at what is and

isn’t working in fisheries management if we are to make any progress in the future.”

All of this comes at an important time, as Congress evaluates the Magnuson-Stevens

Fishery Conservation and Management Act for renewal. The Magnuson-Stevens Act is

the cornerstone of the federal government’s management of our ocean fisheries, and

current legislation in the House of Representatives would fundamentally weaken the Act’s

safeguards already in place (see article, front page).

“Catch limits benefit fishermen because they protect the long-term health of this important

ocean resource, and by extension they protect our way of life,” said Mark Leach, a

commercial hook

fisherman from

Chatham,

Massachusetts. “How

else are we going to

stop overfishing if we don’t limit the number of fish that we catch?”

The Network submitted Shell Game to Congress with the hope of

pointing out the problems with rollbacks to the current law and

encouraging lawmakers to fortify conservation measures essential to

preserving our ocean resources. To view a copy of Shell Game, pleas

visit: http://www.conservefish.org/site/pubs/network_reports/.

MARIN E FISH CONSERVATION N ETWORK

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Photo: NOA

Photo: NOAA

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Network Reveals Fishery Managers are Turning a Blind Eye to Wasteful Fishing

One June 1, the Network released a report on bycatch, the catching and

killing of non-target ocean wildlife from juvenile red snapper to sea turtles,

entitled Turning a Blind Eye: The ‘See No Evil’ Approach to Wasteful

Fishing. The report highlights the enormity of the bycatch problem in U.S.

fisheries and reviews regional council implementation of the bycatchminimization mandates of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and

Management Act (MSA).

Each year bycatch in twenty-seven of the nation’s most important fisheries

total more than 2.2 billion pounds, the equivalent by weight of over 270,000

Hummer H2 SUV’s, more than 15 QE2 luxury liners, or the fish for more than 7

billion fish fillet sandwiches. While examining council implementation of the

bycatch mandates of the MSA, the Network saw little progress nearly eight

years after councils were legally required to take action. Most councils did

not take direct action to minimize bycatch and bycatch mortality and did not

adequately report on the amount or composition of bycatch in their fisheries.

“The fact is we’re not going to deal with overfishing in some of our fisheriesuntil we have a real and accurate picture of the levels of bycatch,” said Zeke

Grader, executive director of the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s

Associations. “Nor is this problem limited to resource conservation since

one fleet’s bycatch maybe the fish another fleet depends upon; too often

small boat commercial family fishermen have had their fisheries wiped out just

to allow the bigger boats to continue destructive fishing operations.”

Surprisingly, 7 out of 8 regional fishery management councils have not

established a legally required standardized bycatch reporting methodology

for all of their fisheries. Out of about 300 federally-managed fisheries, only 42 are currently monitored by fishery observers that help to

quantify bycatch estimates. Sadly, these existing programs are inadequate. While scientists recommend at least 20 percent observer

coverage to accurately estimate bycatch for each fishery, many of the fisheries with the highest levels of bycatch have less than 10 perce

observer coverage. If bycatch is not reported, there is no incentive for councils to address their bycatch problem.

“Many of the fish that sport fishermen love to chase, such as marlin, tuna, and sharks, just aren’t as plentiful anymore because too many

have been caught as bycatch in the longline and swordfish fisheries,

said Jason Schratwieser, conservation director for the International

Game Fish Association. “It’s a shame that fishery managers don’t do

more to protect such a well-loved American pastime.”

The Network report found that currently most councils rely on indire

management benefits from fishery closures and gear restrictions

designed to combat overfishing and protect habitat to prevent

bycatch, rather than utilizing specific bycatch reduction measures.

Bycatch data, when available, is not always accounted for in fisherystock assessments that the councils use to set catch limits. Fishery

models that do not account for large amounts of bycatch will threate

the long-term sustainability of our ocean’s fish until fishery manager

make an honest and diligent effort to quantify and account for

bycatch. To view a copy of Turning a Blind Eye, please visit: http://

www.conservefish.org/site/pubs/network_reports/.


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Photo: NOAA

8/14/2019 MFCN Spring 2006


MARIN E FISH CONSERVATION N ETWORK

Mid-Atlantic Update

South Atlantic Update

At its last meeting in March, the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council continued to work on

management measures, including rebuilding plans for several species in the snapper-grouper complex, the

establishment of sites for eight marine protected areas, and further development of its fishery ecosystem

plan.

Rebuilding Plans

The Council also discussed plans for rebuilding the stocks of snowy grouper, black sea bass, and red

porgy, which follow the Council’s approval of Amendment 13C at its meeting in December. Amendment

13C, which was submitted to the Secretary of Commerce for approval, established catch limits and hard

quotas for four species in the snapper-grouper complex; snowy grouper, black sea bass, vermilion snappe

golden tilefish, as well as a slight increase in the catch of red porgy.

With these reductions, the South Atlantic Council has taken a big step in the right direction to endoverfishing. We will be monitoring its progress in the development of rebuilding plans for snowy grouper, black sea bass, and red porgy,

however, to see if the Council’s commitment to better conservation is serious and sincere.

Marine Protected Areas

The Council has also continued to move forward on selecting its preferred alternatives for eight new marine protected area (MPA) sites

along the South Atlantic coast. The Council is scheduled to decide on its final preferred alternatives for MPA plans at its next meeting in

June, after which the amendments will be open to public hearing.

Fishery Ecosystem Plan

The Council is also making progress on its fishery ecosystem plan (FEP) and its comprehensive amendment that will attempt to lay the

groundwork for a more holistic approach to fisheries management. The Council is considering a collection of preliminary draft actions th

could go into the plan.

Council Votes to Increase Landings of Golden Tilefish Over the Objections of NMFS

Against the advice of Pat Kurkel, National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Regional Administrato

the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council voted in favor of increasing the landings of golden

tilefish from 905 metric tons (mt) to 987 mt for the next three years. At issue, was a request from the

tilefish industry to increase the landings because when the catch limit was set by NMFS, it was

based on live weight instead of gutted weight, which is how the tilefish industry historically inter-

preted reported landings (fish weigh less after they have been “gutted”). While the tilefish rebuild-

ing program is ahead of schedule, the increase “could be devastating for the industry,” noted NMFRegional Administrator. The next stock assessment is not scheduled until 2009, which could prove

to be disastrous if the Council is wrong in setting a higher catch. Any required changes to the

management plan may not be in place in time for the stock to meet its rebuilding deadline of 2011.

NMFS Proposes to Double Spiny Dogfish Bycatch Landings

NMFS has decided to double the spiny dog fish catch to 4 million pounds for the next three years, despite a 20-year stock rebuilding

projection and against an earlier recommendation by the Mid-Atlantic Council to cap dogfish catch at 2 million pounds. Seven months

prior to NMFS’s decision, the Mid-Atlantic Council voted to set multi-year bycatch levels at 2 million pounds and to have 600 pound trip

limits covering two different periods for spiny dogfish. During the debate, Pat Kurkel noted that a 4 million pound cap would potentially

not be “conservation neutral,” especially if the new cap led to unintentionally catching more female dogfish. (Numbers of mature female

spiny dogfish have not increased appreciably in the past three years.)

Reducing Bycatch Mortality in the Recreational Sector

The Ecosystem Committee continues its work on reducing bycatch morality in the recreational sector. Recently, the Ecosystem Committe

reviewed a study which examined recreational catch-and-release angling and whether circle hooks are effective tools for the conservation

of marine fish. The Committee is considering developing a Research Set Aside program in 2009 to further determine circle hook usage.

Atlantic mackerel will be the only recreational stock that will not be eligible for the circle hook program, owing to the structure of its mout

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Photo: NOAA

Photo: Carl Safina

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Gulf of Mexico Update

Pacific Update

Red Snapper IFQ ApprovedAs we reported in the last newsletter, 2006 is the year of the red snapper. In March, the Gulf Council

approved the controversial red snapper individual fishing quota (IFQ) program. After nearly six years of

development, all but two council members voted in favor of the first IFQ program for the Gulf of Mexico.

The Network has long been in favor of Congress enacting national standards for IFQ programs before the

regional fishery management councils and the National Marine Fisheries Service enact any new programs

The red snapper IFQ program creates a strong case for this position. The program has the potential to

consolidate quota amongst the largest 12 or 13 shareholders because of the high ownership cap in the

program. Alarmingly, 82 percent of all red snapper permit holders (73 percent of active permit holders) we

not allowed to vote in the two industry referenda. In addition, there is no expiration date for quota share

in the program, blurring the line between public and private ownership of the resource.

It is expected that the Secretary of Commerce will approve the plan for implementation in 2007.

Red Snapper Rebuilding Plan

Also in March, the Gulf Council made changes to the red snapper rebuilding plan under development after conducting public hearings

throughout the Gulf. Unfortunately, the Gulf Council removed many of the provisions called for by Network member groups necessary to

reduce bycatch (the catching and killing of untargeted ocean wildlife) of red snapper in shrimp trawls.

Mismanagement of red snapper in the Gulf of Mexico continues to cause harm to ocean ecosystems and fishing communities. The time f

the Gulf Council to take action to rebuild the stock and provide for healthy ecosystems and more fishing opportunities in the future is lon

overdue. The public still has opportunities to weigh in on this plan. Visit www.gulfcouncil.org to read the most up-to-date version of the

plan and find out how and when you can get involved.

Sixth Worst Fishery

In the last issue we noted a report detailing the Pacific groundfish fishery’s bycatch rates as sixth worst in

the nation. The report was published in Fish and Fisheries (Volume 6:350-361) and is also available at: http

www.oceana.org/fileadmin/oceana/uploads/Big_Fish_Report/PDF_Bycatch_July28.pdf.

Increasing Bycatch

In March, the Pacific Council approved a permit to expand its drift gillnet fishery into an area that had beenformerly closed to protect endangered leatherback sea turtles. An environmental assessment presented to

the council showed that opening this area would increase the amounts of bycatch of fish, marine mammals

and sea turtles. NMFS’ final approval is pending. The council also preliminarily approved a permit for

longline fishing for swordfish and bigeye tuna (a species currently experiencing overfishing), a fishery

currently closed due to bycatch of endangered sea turtles. Scientists are completing an environmental

assessment.

Fishing Down to Overfished

In March, the Pacific Council voted 13-1 to set a catch level for Pacific whiting that scientists warned would result in the stock going from

its current level of 30 percent of original population size to 25 percent (the overfished threshold for Pacific groundfish populations).

Council member Rod Moore, who represents seafood processing companies (one of which processes over 50 percent of the whiting

caught off the Pacific Coast), voted for the measure, re-assuring other members that the population will bounce back.

Shortest Commercial Salmon Season

Commercial salmon troll fishermen will be sitting at the dock for most of this year’s season due to the National Marine Fisheries Service an

Bureau of Reclamation’s failure to follow scientific advice in setting flow levels in the Klamath River. In 2001, the agencies opted not to

follow its chief scientific adviser and instead re-wrote a biological opinion to show that lower flow levels would not harm threatened coho

salmon. They were wrong, and the fish and fishermen are paying for it. In 2002, massive numbers of juvenile coho and Chinook salmon

were not able to make it to sea, and 70,000 adult Chinook salmon died upon reaching the low-water, warm, and parasite-infested river. Now

in 2006 the spawners that did not spawn and the juveniles that did not make it out are “missing,” and the Pacific Council had no choice bu

to recommend closing 700 miles of coast to salmon fishing. There is a possible repeat of this closure next year.

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Photo: NOAA

Photo: NOAA

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Network Welcomes Newest Members

Aquatic Resources Inc.56010 Fairview Rd.

Coquille, OR 97423

Phone: (541) 396-6886

Fax: (541) 396-6806

www.ari1.com

Originally incorporated as a live Dungeness crab supply companythat grew to be the largest in the world, ARI is now dedicated to

providing live Dungeness crab handlers with an unmatched source

of information about Live Seafood handling. ARI is the originator

of the modular wet-shipping/holding systems in which the same

container can be used at sea, shore side, and during trucking. This

modular system reduces handling and associated mortalities.

Arizona Public Interest Research Group

(Arizona PIRG)130 N. Central Ave., Suite 311

Phoenix , AZ 85004

Phone: (602) 252-9227 Fax: (602) 252-9201

www.arizonapirg.org

Arizona PIRG uncovers threats to public health and well-being and

fights to end them, using the time-tested tools of investigative

research, media exposure, grassroots organizing, advocacy and

litigation. Arizona PIRG’s mission is to deliver persistent, result-

oriented public interest activism that protects our environment,

encourages a fair, sustainable economy, and fosters responsive,

democratic government.

Cook Inletkeeper3734 Ben Walters Lane, Suite 201

Homer, AK 99603Phone: (907) 235-4068

Fax: (907) 235-4069

www.inletkeeper.org

Cook Inlet Keeper is a private nonprofit organization dedicated to

protecting the vast Cook Inlet watershed and the life it sustains.

Keeper’s programs unite individuals and groups through water

quality monitoring, environmental education, and effective

advocacy, to give citizens the tools they need to promote clean

water in the 47,000 square mile Cook Inlet watershed. Keeper’s 19’

patrol skiff provides the organization with a unique platform to

sample water quality, educate groups, and press for responsible

stewardship. Since its inception in 1995, Keeper has become the

leading advocate for watershed-based protections in the rich but

threatened streams, lakes and estuaries of the Cook Inlet watershed.

Environment Colorado1536 Wynkoop St., Ste. 100

Denver, CO 80202

Phone: (303) 573-3871

Fax: (303) 573-3780

www.environmentcolorado.orgEnvironment Colorado focuses on protecting air and water

quality, promoting a sustainable energy policy, implementing

transit oriented solutions to Colorado’s transportation

problems and curbing sprawl by promoting responsible land

use planning. Environment Colorado utilizes the time-tested

tools of research, public education, advocacy, and organizing.

Environment Maryland3121 St. Paul Street, Suite 26

Baltimore, MD 21218

Phone: (410) 417-0439

Fax: (410) 366-2051www.environmentmaryland.org

Environment Maryland is a statewide, citizen-based

environmental advocacy organization. Their professional staff

combines independent research, practical ideas and tough-

minded advocacy to overcome the opposition of powerful

special interests and win real results for Maryland’s

environment.

Environment Michigan103 E. Liberty, Suite 202

Ann Arbor, MI 48104

Phone: (734) 662-9797

Fax: (734) 662-8393www.environmentmichigan.org

Environment Michigan is a statewide, citizen-based

environmental advocacy organization. Our professional staff

combines independent research, practical ideas and tough-

minded advocacy to overcome the opposition of powerful

special interests and win real results for Michigan’s

environment. Environment Michigan draws on 30 years of

success in tackling our state’s top environmental problems.

Environment North Carolina112 S. Blount Street, Suite 102

Raleigh, NC 27601

Phone: (919) 833-0015

Fax: (919) 839-0767

www.environmentnorthcarolina.org

Environment North Carolina uses independent research and

tough-minded advocacy to win concrete results for the

environment, especially when powerful interests stand in the

way of environmental progress. Environment North Carolina

focuses exclusively on protecting North Carolina’s air, water

and open spaces. They speak out and take action at the local,

state and national levels to improve the quality of the

environment and our lives.

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Environment Texas700 West Ave.

Austin, TX 78701

Phone: (512) 479-0388

Fax: (512) 479-0400

www.environmenttexas.orgEnvironment Texas uses independent research and tough-minded

advocacy to win concrete results for the environment, especially

when powerful interests stand in the way of environmental

progress. Environment Texas focuses exclusively on protecting

Texas’ air, water and open spaces. They speak out and take action

at the local, state and national levels to improve the quality of the

environment and our lives.

Food & Water Watch1400 16th St., NW, Ste. 225

Washington, DC 20036

Phone: (202) 797-6558

Fax: (202) 797-6560

www.foodandwaterwatch.org

Food & Water Watch challenges the corporate control and abuse of

our food and water resources by empowering people to take action

and by transforming the public consciousness about what we eat

and drink. We work on food safety, agriculture, fisheries, and

waterrights in a four-pronged effort: public and policymaker

education, lobbying, media, and Internet activism. We want citizens

to speak up, get involved at the grassroots level, and push for

change in their communities.

Green Fire Productions

P.O. Box 369 La grande, OR 97850

Phone: (541) 963-2495

www.greenfireproductions.org

Green Fire Productions creates and distributes media

communication tools that advance conservation and social justice

issues. Our most recent program focuses on protecting ocean

habitat off Oregon’s coast and restoring fisheries.

New Hampshire Public Interest Research Group

(NHPIRG)30 S. Main St.

Concord, NH 03301Phone: (603) 229-3222

Fax: (603) 229-3221

www.nhpirg.org

NHPIRG uncovers threats to public health and well-being and



litigation. NHPIRGs mission is to deliver persistent, result-oriented

public interest activism that protects our environment, encourages

a fair, sustainable economy, and fosters responsive, democratic

government.

New Jersey Public Interest Research Group

(NJPIRG)11 N. Willow Street

Trenton, NJ 08608

Phone: (609) 394-8155

Fax: (609) 989-9013

www.njpirg.org

NJPIRG uncovers threats to public health and well-being and figh

to end them, using the time-tested tools of investigative research,

media exposure, grassroots organizing, advocacy and litigation.

NJPIRGs mission is to deliver persistent, result-oriented public

interest activism that protects our environment, encourages a fair,

sustainable economy, and fosters responsive, democratic

government.

Oceans Alert47 Warren Street

Hastings-on-Hudson, NY 10706 Phone: (914) 478-3188

Fax: (914) 478-2667

www.oceansalert.org

Oceans Alert seeks to involve people worldwide in efforts to creat

ocean literacy; rebuild healthy and sustainable fish populations;

encourage responsible aquaculture practices, and restore the heal

of the ocean and waterways.

Prime Seafood9814 Kensington Parkway

Kensington, MD 20895

Phone: (301) 949-7778

Fax: (301) 949-3003www.primeseafood.com

Prime Seafood does wholesale and retail sales of top quality

seafood from sustainably managed fisheries to high-end

restaurants in the Washington DC Area.

Wisconsin Public Interest Research Group

(WISPIRG)210 N. Bassett St., Suite 200

Madison, WI 53703

Phone: (608) 251-9501

Fax: (608) 287-0865

www.wispirg.orgWISPIRG uncovers threats to public health and well-being and



litigation. WISPIRGs mission is to deliver persistent, result-oriente

public interest activism that protects our environment, encourage

a fair, sustainable economy, and fosters responsive, democratic

government.

8/14/2019 MFCN Spring 2006


mfcn spring 2006

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