RJ
02-12-2003, 02:30 PM
ASMFC Approves Draft Scup Addendum IX for Public Comment Comment Accepted until February 23, 2003
The Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass Management Board has approved Draft Addendum IX to the Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for public comment. The intent of this document is to provide the states with greater flexibility in managing their 2003 recreational scup fisheries. Specific options offered for consideration include regional and state-specific regulations, as well as provisions for separating the charter/party boat mode from the rest of the recreational fishery.
A prior addendum addressed the 2002 recreational fishery, establishing a combination of state-specific and regional regulations. This document expired at the end of 2002, necessitating the development of a new mechanism for managing the recreational scup fishery in 2003. The Management Board will meet on February 25, 2003 to discuss the document and review any public comment. Addendum approval and implementation is slated for late winter/early spring, prior to the beginning of the recreational fishery.
Scup is managed jointly by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council. The Commission and Council meet each year to establish a commercial quota and recreational harvest limit. Recreational management measures include a combination of bag/size limits and seasonal closures to ensure that the recreational harvest limit is not exceeded.
The commercial fishery is managed by an annual quota, which is divided among three seasonal periods. Copies of the Draft Addendum IX can be obtained by contacting the Commission at (202) 289-6400 or via the Commission's website at www.asmfc.org.
Public comment on the document will be accepted until February 23, 2003 and should be forwarded to Michael Lewis, Fisheries Management Plan Coordinator, at 1444 Eye Street, N.W., Sixth Floor, Washington, DC, 20005; (202) 289-6051 (fax) or mlewis@asmfc.org. For more information, please contact Michael Lewis at (202)289-6400.
The Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass Management Board has approved Draft Addendum IX to the Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for public comment. The intent of this document is to provide the states with greater flexibility in managing their 2003 recreational scup fisheries. Specific options offered for consideration include regional and state-specific regulations, as well as provisions for separating the charter/party boat mode from the rest of the recreational fishery.
A prior addendum addressed the 2002 recreational fishery, establishing a combination of state-specific and regional regulations. This document expired at the end of 2002, necessitating the development of a new mechanism for managing the recreational scup fishery in 2003. The Management Board will meet on February 25, 2003 to discuss the document and review any public comment. Addendum approval and implementation is slated for late winter/early spring, prior to the beginning of the recreational fishery.
Scup is managed jointly by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council. The Commission and Council meet each year to establish a commercial quota and recreational harvest limit. Recreational management measures include a combination of bag/size limits and seasonal closures to ensure that the recreational harvest limit is not exceeded.
The commercial fishery is managed by an annual quota, which is divided among three seasonal periods. Copies of the Draft Addendum IX can be obtained by contacting the Commission at (202) 289-6400 or via the Commission's website at www.asmfc.org.
Public comment on the document will be accepted until February 23, 2003 and should be forwarded to Michael Lewis, Fisheries Management Plan Coordinator, at 1444 Eye Street, N.W., Sixth Floor, Washington, DC, 20005; (202) 289-6051 (fax) or mlewis@asmfc.org. For more information, please contact Michael Lewis at (202)289-6400.