Alexandria, VA – The Commission’s Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass Management Board approved Addendum XXII to the Fishery Management Plan. The Addendum, which applies only to black sea bass, replaces coastwide recreational management measures for the second consecutive year and attempts to again mitigate potential disproportionate impacts to some Mid-Atlantic states whose landings have declined markedly in recent years.
In 2011, Addendum XXI established state-by-state measures, requiring states from Massachusetts to New Jersey, plus North Carolina to cut harvest by 37% to 43% to meet the coastwide recreational harvest target. Addendum XXII establishes a regional management approach which allows the northern region states (Massachusetts to New Jersey) to collectively liberalize up to 57%. The southern region states (Delaware to North Carolina) have committed to implementing measures consistent with those recommended for federal waters (the 25 fish, 12.5 inches TL minimum fish size, and an open season from May 19 to October 14 and November 1 to December 31). Preliminary estimated harvest in 2011 was 0.99 million pounds, approximately 0.8 million pounds below the 2012 harvest target. While not required, states in the northern region will strive to implement similar recreational measures throughout that region. The regulations will be implemented for state waters only. Over the next two months, states will submit proposed recreational measures for Technical Committee review and Board approval.
The Board approved state proposals for the 2012 summer flounder fishing recreational fishery. All states, with the exception of Delaware, have the potential to liberalize their regulations in 2012. Delaware’s 2011 harvest (preliminary estimate) is 8% higher than its 2012 harvest target which would normally require stricter conservation measures this year under the FMP. However, the Board approved status quo measures for Delaware in 2012 recognizing Delaware’s harvest is small (less than 5% of the total) and other states are taking a precautionary approach to liberalization. Over the next two months, states will select one of the approved proposals for the 2012 fishing year and publish their regulations upon implementation.
The states of New Jersey to North Carolina have implemented status quo measures for the 2012 scup recreational fishery. The states of Massachusetts to New York will be able to significantly liberalize their 2012 recreational measures given the near doubling of recreational harvest target from 2011 levels. For more information, please contact Toni Kerns, Senior FMP Coordinator, at tkerns@asmfc.org or 703.842.0740.
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