March 4, 2013 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission.
Arlington, VA – MARCH 4, 2013 — New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina have scheduled their hearings to gather public comment on Draft Addendum II to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Atlantic Coastal Sharks. The dates, times, and locations of the scheduled meetings follow.
New Jersey Division of Fish & Wildlife
March 21, 2013; 7:00 PM
Ocean County Library-Stafford Branch
129 North Main Street
Manahawkin, New Jersey
Contact: Peter Himchak at 609.748.2020
Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Fisheries Service
March 18, 2013; 2:00 PM
Town of Ocean City Municipal Airport
12724 Airport Road
Berlin, Maryland
Contact: Angel Willey at 410.643.4601
Virginia Marine Resources Commission
March 20, 2013; 6:00 PM
2600 Washington Avenue, Fourth Floor
Newport News, Virginia
Contact: Rob O’Reilly at 757.247.2247
North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries
March 21, 2013; 6:00 PM
Dare County Administrative Building, Room 168
954 Marshall Collins Drive
Manteo, North Carolina
Contact: Holly White at 252.473.5734
The Draft Addendum proposes measures to establish state shares for smooth dogfish and allow commercial fishermen to process smooth dogfish at sea such that the total weight of smooth dogfish fins landed or found on board a vessel does not exceed 12% of the total weight of smooth dogfish carcasses landed or found on board the vessel. The purpose of the Addendum is to preserve the historical distribution of smooth dogfish landings prior to the implementation of a federal quota for smooth dogfish (also known as smoothhound) and to ensure consistency between the state and federal plans. NOAA Fisheries Office of Highly Migratory Species Division (HMS) is working to amend the HMS FMP to include measures from the Shark Conservation Act. This rule will also include a federal smoothhound shark quota.
Fishermen and other interested groups are encouraged to provide input on the Draft Addendum either by attending state public hearings or providing written comment. The Draft Addendum is available here. Public comment will be accepted until 5:00 PM (EST) on March 28, 2013 and should be forwarded to Marin Hawk, FMP Coordinator, at 1050 N. Highland St., Suite 200 A-N, Arlington, VA 22201; 703.842.0741 (FAX) or comments@asmfc.org (Subject line: Smooth Dogfish Draft Addendum II).