APPENDIX III APPENDIX III 
EFFECT OF A 200-MILE LIMIT ON THE FISHERY 
Menhaden are caught almost exclusively within the 12- 
mile contiguous fisheries zone and are already protected from 
foreign fishing fleets. Establishment of the 200-mile limit 
will have no effect on the menhaden fishery. 
There is no foreign activity in the menhaden fishery 
and U.S. menhaden vessels are not active in any foreign 
waters. 
An industry official said that even though available 
statistical data shows no foreign activities of menhaden in 
the 12-to 200-mile zone and beyond, some may exist. Men- 
haden have been observed on foreign vessels on occasions 
when vessels were boarded for inspection. There is no 
supporting data for this. 
OTHER MATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION 
Since the populations of menhaden in the gulf and At- 
lantic fisheries are close to full exploitation, the only 
opportunity for further major development of the fishmeal 
industry seems to be in using the thread herring population 
in the gulf. 
This resource is thought by NMFS to exceed menhaden 
and might be harvested with menhaden vessels because the 
thread herring resources are harvested at periods when the 
menhaden is not. 
The thread herring product is equal in quality to the 
menhaden and the feasibility of production and processing 
was illustrated in the mid-1960s when a processing plant 
was built in Florida for thread herring; but, Florida legis- 
lation prohibited purse seining in State waters. 
190/191 
