Demand Shrimpers Use Lighted Nets to Protect Eulachon Smelt from Endangerment

  • by: Sue Lee
  • recipient: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

Please sign and share this petition worldwide as we ask all shrimpers to use special methods and lighted nets when fishing for shrimp that will not endanger the eulachon smelt. Currently, this variety of smelt is highly in danger of extinction and being caught in shrimp nets leads to lesser numbers of the smelt variety.

According to the New York Times, trawlers along the West Coast are raking in large amounts of pink shrimp across the country for special dining pleasures. The problem is that the nets not only bring up the shrimp but often scoop up the threatened eulachon smelts. The fear is that this could lead to federal restrictions of the shrimping industry if nothing is done to protect this species of smelt.

To help in resolving this issue, scientists in Oregon have developed the idea of a light up net which is effective and cost efficient. Testing by fisheries biologists Robert Hannah and Stephen Jones of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and Mark Lomeli of the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission have shown that the unlit net versus a lighted net made a dramatic difference; the unlit net brought in a catch of lots of silvery eulachon, flatfishes and other so-called bycatch mixed in among bright pink shrimp while the lighted net presented virtually nothing but shrimp.

As the shrimping season is fully upon us, we are urging all shrimpers to be required to use the lighted nets and protect the eulachon smelt from becoming extinct. Help us in this effort my signing and sharing this petition worldwide on all media sites and spread the word.




Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife – We are urging you to strictly implement and enforce regulations that requires all shrimpers to use the light-up nets in an effort to save the eulachon smelt from endangerment and extinction. Those that do not abide should face consequences. Protect the eulachon smelt with stiffer requirements and legal requirements of all shrimpers.

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