James Sulikowski's menhaden research noted in letter by nine members of Congress

The Menhaden Fisheries Coalition reported on April 9, 2012 that research by James Sulikowski, Ph.D., UNE associate professor in the Marine Science Department, is noted in a letter that nine members of Congress have written to the heads of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and the National Marine Fisheries Service. The letter expresses concern that the menhaden stock assessment workshop planned for this year may not include all the latest information or incorporate recommendations for improving and fixing the stock assessment model made by the last assessment's scientific peer review panel.

They noted that "Dr. James Sulikowski, conducted an aerial survey as a cooperative research project last summer to review and characterize the adult menhaden population beyond the range of the fishery."  They urged that these "matters should not be excluded from consideration simply because this year's assessment would typically be a simple update."

The research noted was led by Sulikowski and conducted from Maine to New Jersey by a coalition of scientists, spotter pilots, fishermen, bait suppliers, and members of the fish reduction industry. They are trying to document the presence of menhaden in this northern area, which is outside of the regular survey range, and use at-sea sampling to determine if there are larger, older fish in the area.  The northern-waters aerial survey, the first of its kind for menhaden, which are also called pogies or bunkers, got underway on August 1, 2011 with a strong survey team that Sulikowski is confident will ensure the project's success.