The second annual meeting of the River Herring Network was held on October 25, 2012 in Buzzards Bay. Attendance was high with 41 people representing 16 towns, two state agencies (DMF and Division of Fisheries and Wildlife), the federal agency NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service, and 8 non-profit organizations. Two representatives of the Massachusetts Bays Program also attended.
Six speakers gave power point presentations on the topics of bycatch of river herring in the Atlantic Herring fishery, the status of the petition to list river herring as endangered, the design and operation of fish ladders, funding opportunities through the NOAA Restoration Center, and an update on the monitoring of the Acushnet River Restoration Project.
The mid day talk focused on the accomplishments of the River Herring Network in 2011 and 2012 and asked members to think about what they would like to see accomplished in future years. The Network has been funded by a grant from the Mass Bays Program but that funding is no longer available. During the breakout session members discussed and agreed that at the very least, the Network should organize and hold an annual meeting. Members also brainstormed ways of funding future activities and several new folks volunteered to become a part of the Planning Committee.
If you have ideas for activities you would like to see happen in 2013, or would like to join the Planning Committee, please send us an email through the “Contact Us” tab on the website.
Start thinking about topics for the 2013 annual meeting!
The powerpoint presentations and notes from the meeting can be viewed at the link below. http://riverherringnetwork.org/about-us/annual-meeting.html
Abby Franklin
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