DNREC to Host July 7 Public Hearing on Proposed Revisions to Shad and River Herring Management Plan
June 17, 2008
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, Division of Fish and Wildlife, will host a public hearing at 6:30 p.m. Monday, July 7 in the DNREC auditorium, Richardson & Robbins Building, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, regarding proposed revisions to the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Shad and River Herring.
The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission has developed a public information document (PID) as the first step to drafting an amendment in response to the findings of the 2007 benchmark stock assessment for American shad, which indicates that American shad stocks are currently at all-time lows and do not appear to be recovering.
Specific issues addressed are: (1) incorporating the biological reference points and stock restoration goals identified in the 2007 benchmark stock assessment; (2) not increasing directed fisheries for American shad; and (3) restricting fisheries operating on stocks where total mortality is increasing and relative abundance is decreasing. The PID has been developed to address these issues by seeking public comment on the restoration of American shad fisheries and American shad fisheries management.
The PID presents a broad overview of the factors affecting American shad, and provides the public with the opportunity to tell the Commission about changes observed in the fishery; things that should or should not be done in terms of management, regulation, enforcement, research, development, and enhancement; and any other concerns about the resource or the fishery. Other coastal states including New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia will also be holding public hearings on the proposed changes.
Following the initial phase of information-gathering and public comment, the Commission will evaluate potential management alternatives and develop a draft amendment for public review. Following that review and public comment, the Commission will specify the management measures to be included in the final amendment. A tentative schedule for the completion of the amendment is included in PID.
Copies of the PID may be obtained by contacting the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission at 202-289-6400 or by visiting its website at www.asmfc.org
under Breaking News.
Citizens may address comments in writing to Erika Robbins, Fisheries Management Plan Coordinator, 1444 ‘Eye’ Street, NW, Sixth Floor, Washington, D.C. 20005, fax to 202-289-6051, or email to comments [at] asmfc [dot] org, subject line American shad. Public comment will be accepted until 5 p.m. Friday, July 25.
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Na Ala Hele Trails Program Marks National Trails Day With Boardwalk Installation at Manoa Cliff Trail
June 5, 2008
HONOLULU – The Department of Land and Natural Resources’ (DLNR) Na Ala Hele Trails and Access Program will mark National Trails Day, on Saturday, June 7, with a project to install a board walk in the first half-mile section of the Manoa Cliff hiking trail.
“National Trails Day is a nationwide celebration and recognizes the value and significance of outdoor recreational trails to our community and wellbeing,” adds Laura H. Thielen, DLNR chairperson. “I encourage the public to take advantage of the summer weather to ‘take a hike’ on DLNR’s diverse selection of trails across the state.”
Starting at 9 a.m. Na Ala Hele program staff, assisted by community volunteers and members of the Hawaiian Ultra Running Team will install a board walk made of recycled plastic lumber mounted on steel posts along several hundred feet of erosion prone trail. Work will finish by about 5 p.m.
“This project supports our trail program’s restoration goals and will really improve a seasonally muddy and poorly draining section of one of the most popular forest hiking trails on O‘ahu,” said Curt Cottrell, Na Ala Hele program manager. “Hikers are usually forced to walk through the mud or widen the trail by trying to walking around the mud puddles. Thanks to our volunteers, we will make a nice board walk to keep everybody above and out of the mud,” he said.
“Even though we are working on the start of the trail, it will remain open and hikers will be able to get past,” Cottrell said.
Trail crew and volunteers will carry in the materials, help pound in anchor posts, attach all sections of boardwalk, bolt stringers and screw down decking, and apply a slip proof metal surface on top.
The Manoa Cliff Trail, part of the Honolulu Mauka trails system, is 2.3 miles long, and at an elevation of 500 feet, traverses the Ko‘olau mountains through thick, partly native forest.
For information about this trail, and other state-maintained forest trails under the Na Ala Hele trails system, and important safety guidelines, go to www.hawaiitrails.org.
DLNR reminds hikers that statewide weather forecasts predict a dry summer and vegetation may be dry. Hikers, campers and hunters should exercise caution to prevent wildfires on trails and in camping or hunting areas.
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