The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) recently approved a combination of state and regional proposals for the 2014 summer flounder recreational fishery.
The fishery will be managed through regional management measures for two regions:
(1) Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia, including the Potomac River Fisheries Commission:
a 16-inch minimum size limit
4 fish bag limit
a year-round season
(2) Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey Regulations:
an 18-inch minimum size
5 fish bag limit
128 day open season with not more than 45 days open from May 1 – June 30.
States will also have the option to develop a program that allows for a 16-inch minimum size limit at state designated sites offering only shore-based fishing access.
North Carolina summer flounder regulations are expected to remain unchanged for the 2014 fishing season.
States are undergoing their administrative processes to adopt regulations. Once regulations are finalized, they will be available on state and Commission websites.
For more information, visit: http://www.asmfc.org/
source: Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission
Showing posts with label asfmc. Show all posts
Showing posts with label asfmc. Show all posts
Saturday, March 29, 2014
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Regional Fishery Councils Approve Summer Flounder, Scup, Black Sea Bass, and Bluefish Specifications
The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (Commission) and the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) have established commercial quotas and recreational harvest limits for summer flounder, scup, black sea bass, and bluefish for the 2014 fishing season and beyond.
For more information, visit: http://www.asmfc.org/
source: Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission
For more information, visit: http://www.asmfc.org/
source: Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission
Saturday, June 1, 2013
Black Drum FMP
The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) recently approved its Interstate Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Black Drum.
The plan requires all states to maintain current regulations for black drum and implement a maximum possession limit and minimum size limit (of no less than 12 inches) by January 1, 2014.
States will be required to further increase the minimum size limit (to no less than 14 inches) by January 1, 2016.
The FMP also establishes a management framework to address future concerns or changes in the fishery or population. The first coastwide benchmark stock assessment for black drum is expected to be released in 2014.
The Black Drum FMP is available on the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission website (www.asmfc.org) under Breaking News or can be obtained by contacting the Commission at 703.842.0740.
source: Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission
The plan requires all states to maintain current regulations for black drum and implement a maximum possession limit and minimum size limit (of no less than 12 inches) by January 1, 2014.
States will be required to further increase the minimum size limit (to no less than 14 inches) by January 1, 2016.
The FMP also establishes a management framework to address future concerns or changes in the fishery or population. The first coastwide benchmark stock assessment for black drum is expected to be released in 2014.
The Black Drum FMP is available on the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission website (www.asmfc.org) under Breaking News or can be obtained by contacting the Commission at 703.842.0740.
source: Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission
Friday, April 6, 2012
ASMFC Lowers Tautog Harvest Reduction
The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's Tautog Management Board has lowered the harvest reduction necessary for states to comply with Addendum VI. Under the revised stock assessment update, states from Connecticut through Virginia are required to reduce harvest by 39% from the average of 2008 and 2009 levels.
This change responds to errors found in the 2011 assessment update, which overestimated the 2009 fishing mortality rate and, therefore, the associated harvest reduction necessary to achieve the fishing mortality target. Previously, states had been required to reduce harvest by 53%.
Approved in late 2011, Addendum VI lowers the fishing mortality target to 0.15 and requires states to implement measures to achieve this target. Additionally, it allows for reductions based on regional/state fishing mortality rates for states that can demonstrate a lower regional fishing mortality rate than the coastwide assessment.
Massachusetts and Rhode Island submitted and received Board approval for a regional assessment which demonstrated a local fishing mortality rate below the Addendum VI target. Therefore, they will not need to make any harvest reductions. All other states are required to meet the 39% reduction in harvest and can employ a combination of bag limits, size limits and/or closed seasons based on approved methodologies to achieve the reductions.
All states have the option of implementing more conservative management measures. The revised assessment results show the stock continues to be overfished with overfishing occurring.
source: ASMFC
This change responds to errors found in the 2011 assessment update, which overestimated the 2009 fishing mortality rate and, therefore, the associated harvest reduction necessary to achieve the fishing mortality target. Previously, states had been required to reduce harvest by 53%.
Approved in late 2011, Addendum VI lowers the fishing mortality target to 0.15 and requires states to implement measures to achieve this target. Additionally, it allows for reductions based on regional/state fishing mortality rates for states that can demonstrate a lower regional fishing mortality rate than the coastwide assessment.
Massachusetts and Rhode Island submitted and received Board approval for a regional assessment which demonstrated a local fishing mortality rate below the Addendum VI target. Therefore, they will not need to make any harvest reductions. All other states are required to meet the 39% reduction in harvest and can employ a combination of bag limits, size limits and/or closed seasons based on approved methodologies to achieve the reductions.
All states have the option of implementing more conservative management measures. The revised assessment results show the stock continues to be overfished with overfishing occurring.
source: ASMFC
Sunday, May 9, 2010
ASMFC Allows States to Lengthen Black Sea Bass Seasons
In a vote supported by all member states of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's (ASMFC) Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass Management Board, states will now have the option to liberalize the 2010 black sea bass season in state waters by an additional 90 days. The proposed new season will run from May 22 through October 11, with an additional open period of November 1 through December 31. The proposal would keep the size and bag limit the same of 12-1/2 inches and 25 fish per angler.
The changes come following a bitter struggle by recreational fishermen to save a vital Atlantic fishery. When NOAA Fisheries abruptly closed the recreational sea bass fishery last October without any opportunity for public comment, the RFA immediately began working on a legal challenge to fight the closure. The RFA, United Boatmen and a coalition of industry allies (the "Plaintiffs") filed suit on November 4, 2009 in New Jersey Federal Court arguing that the sea bass closure should be declared unlawful and set aside for being arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, and otherwise not in accordance with law pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act.
"The emergency closure of the recreational sea bass fishery was unprecedented for a fishery that is not 'overfished' and where 'overfishing is not occurring'," said Jim Donofrio, RFA Executive Director. "This case is about more than just sea bass; it's about taking a stand against a federal agency abusing its power and hurting individuals and small business owners.
For more information, visit www.joinrfa.org
The changes come following a bitter struggle by recreational fishermen to save a vital Atlantic fishery. When NOAA Fisheries abruptly closed the recreational sea bass fishery last October without any opportunity for public comment, the RFA immediately began working on a legal challenge to fight the closure. The RFA, United Boatmen and a coalition of industry allies (the "Plaintiffs") filed suit on November 4, 2009 in New Jersey Federal Court arguing that the sea bass closure should be declared unlawful and set aside for being arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, and otherwise not in accordance with law pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act.
"The emergency closure of the recreational sea bass fishery was unprecedented for a fishery that is not 'overfished' and where 'overfishing is not occurring'," said Jim Donofrio, RFA Executive Director. "This case is about more than just sea bass; it's about taking a stand against a federal agency abusing its power and hurting individuals and small business owners.
For more information, visit www.joinrfa.org
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