Mid Atlantic EEZ Striped Bass Enforcement

NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement (OLE) recently announced that the agency will be enforcing federal regulations governing striped bass in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the Mid Atlantic region.

During the months of November through February, NOAA Office of Law Enforcement is expected to join state and federal marine law enforcement organizations in supporting a focused enforcement effort, targeting vessels retaining and fishing for striped bass in the EEZ. Officers will be conducting at-sea, aerial, and dock-side inspections.

In the Mid-Atlantic region, marine OLE officers and the U.S. Coast Guard will be ticketing fishermen who violate striped bass regulations within the EEZ.

source: NOAA Fisheries

Delaware Requests Special Management Zone Designations for EEZ Reef Sites

In December, the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC) approved a list of alternatives for public hearings relative to the request by Delaware to have its five reef sites in the EEZ designated as Special Management Zones (SMZs) under provisions of Amendment 9 to the Summer flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass FMP. 

MAFMC will host three public hearings (one each to be held in New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland) in January 2013 to receive public comment on the proposed alternatives.

Public comments received on the issue will be reviewed by the Council at its February 2013 meeting.

source: MAFMC