RJ
12-17-2007, 02:24 PM
Secaucus* NJ - The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) together with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Summer Flounder* Scup and Black Sea Bass (Board) met on December 11 and adopted the following 2008 recreational fishery management measures:
Summer Flounder
Scup*
Black Sea Bass
2008 Harvest Limit
6.21 m lbs
1.82 m lbs
2.11 m lbs
Possession Limit
state-specific
15 fish (EEZ)
25 fish
Minimum Fish Size
state-specific
10.5" (EEZ)
12"
Open Season
state-specific
Jan. 1-Feb. 29 and
Oct. 1-Oct. 31
Jan. 1 - Dec. 31
* For state waters* the Board will develop Regional conservation equivalency measures for the states New York through Massachusetts.
The above summer flounder* scup* and black sea bass recreational harvest limits for 2008 are consistent with the National Marine Fishery Service's (NMFS) proposed rule for these species and reflect the appropriate allocation of the initial total allowable landings (TAL) limit of 15.77 million pounds* 7.34 million pounds* and 4.22 million pounds for summer flounder* scup* and black sea bass fisheries* respectively. For the summer flounder fishery* the Council and Board adopted the conservation equivalency alternative in lieu of a coastwide option.
This decision requires the states to develop state-specific management measures (i.e.* possession limits* size limits* and seasons) to achieve state-specific harvest limits. The states will develop management proposals and submit them to the Board for approval at its February 2008 meeting.
As a non-preferred alternative* the Council and Board adopted a coastwide daily bag limit of three fish with a 19-inch total length (TL) minimum size requirement* and an open season from May 23 until September 1* 2008. They also adopted a precautionary default measure of a 20-inch TL minimum fish size* a two fish possession limit and an open season from May 23 to September 1* 2008. This measure would be imposed on any state that does not develop and implement conservation equivalent management measures.
In addressing the monkfish fishery* the Council passed a motion to adopt and submit to the Secretary the same preferred alternatives selected by the New England Council for Framework 5 to the Joint Monkfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP). If approved* Monkfish Framework 5 would establish new biological reference points based on the most recent Data Poor Stocks Working Group Assessment* i.e.
B2006 (mt)
Btarget(mt)
Bthreshold (mt)
NFMA
118*700
92*200
65*200
SFMA
135*500
122*500
96*400
Btarget = average of total biomass 1980 – 2006
Bthreshold = lowest value of total biomass 1980 – 2006
The framework would also reduce the Days at Sea (DAS) carry over level from ten to four* eliminate the three-hour trip accounting mechanism by requiring that all gill net trips of less than 15 hours be counted as 15 hours* establish a new lower incidental landing limit for vessels using large mesh and eliminate the letter of authorization requirement for certain VMS (vessel monitoring system) vessels while maintaining such a requirement for non-VMS vessels.
In its vote to support Framework 5* the Council also included language recommending the development of Framework 6 as a single-issue action to remove - prior to the start of the 2009 fishing year - the default backstop provision established in Framework 4. The Council also requested that the New England Council consider* as a priority for 2009* reviewing the current management measures and the latest monkfish stock assessment to determine if any adjustments to total allowable catch (TAC) and related trip limits are warranted. The Council also expressed its support of New England Council's draft letter to the NMFS’ Regional Administrator regarding VMS requirements* i.e.* concerns regarding the impact on the monkfish fishery of the VMS requirement established in Framework 42 of the Multispecies FMP.
The Council took action to increase the number of members on its Science and Statistical Committee (SSC) from12 up to as many as 20 members. Although no new appointments were made during this Council meeting an Ad Hoc Committee was established and charged with the assignment to modify the current Statement of Operation* Practices and Procedures (SOPPs) to conform to the new Magnuson Stevens Act (MSA) requirement regarding use of the SSC for providing advice. Part of this assignment will be to ensure that the SSC will have appropriate disciplines* credentials* and independence.
Summer Flounder
Scup*
Black Sea Bass
2008 Harvest Limit
6.21 m lbs
1.82 m lbs
2.11 m lbs
Possession Limit
state-specific
15 fish (EEZ)
25 fish
Minimum Fish Size
state-specific
10.5" (EEZ)
12"
Open Season
state-specific
Jan. 1-Feb. 29 and
Oct. 1-Oct. 31
Jan. 1 - Dec. 31
* For state waters* the Board will develop Regional conservation equivalency measures for the states New York through Massachusetts.
The above summer flounder* scup* and black sea bass recreational harvest limits for 2008 are consistent with the National Marine Fishery Service's (NMFS) proposed rule for these species and reflect the appropriate allocation of the initial total allowable landings (TAL) limit of 15.77 million pounds* 7.34 million pounds* and 4.22 million pounds for summer flounder* scup* and black sea bass fisheries* respectively. For the summer flounder fishery* the Council and Board adopted the conservation equivalency alternative in lieu of a coastwide option.
This decision requires the states to develop state-specific management measures (i.e.* possession limits* size limits* and seasons) to achieve state-specific harvest limits. The states will develop management proposals and submit them to the Board for approval at its February 2008 meeting.
As a non-preferred alternative* the Council and Board adopted a coastwide daily bag limit of three fish with a 19-inch total length (TL) minimum size requirement* and an open season from May 23 until September 1* 2008. They also adopted a precautionary default measure of a 20-inch TL minimum fish size* a two fish possession limit and an open season from May 23 to September 1* 2008. This measure would be imposed on any state that does not develop and implement conservation equivalent management measures.
In addressing the monkfish fishery* the Council passed a motion to adopt and submit to the Secretary the same preferred alternatives selected by the New England Council for Framework 5 to the Joint Monkfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP). If approved* Monkfish Framework 5 would establish new biological reference points based on the most recent Data Poor Stocks Working Group Assessment* i.e.
B2006 (mt)
Btarget(mt)
Bthreshold (mt)
NFMA
118*700
92*200
65*200
SFMA
135*500
122*500
96*400
Btarget = average of total biomass 1980 – 2006
Bthreshold = lowest value of total biomass 1980 – 2006
The framework would also reduce the Days at Sea (DAS) carry over level from ten to four* eliminate the three-hour trip accounting mechanism by requiring that all gill net trips of less than 15 hours be counted as 15 hours* establish a new lower incidental landing limit for vessels using large mesh and eliminate the letter of authorization requirement for certain VMS (vessel monitoring system) vessels while maintaining such a requirement for non-VMS vessels.
In its vote to support Framework 5* the Council also included language recommending the development of Framework 6 as a single-issue action to remove - prior to the start of the 2009 fishing year - the default backstop provision established in Framework 4. The Council also requested that the New England Council consider* as a priority for 2009* reviewing the current management measures and the latest monkfish stock assessment to determine if any adjustments to total allowable catch (TAC) and related trip limits are warranted. The Council also expressed its support of New England Council's draft letter to the NMFS’ Regional Administrator regarding VMS requirements* i.e.* concerns regarding the impact on the monkfish fishery of the VMS requirement established in Framework 42 of the Multispecies FMP.
The Council took action to increase the number of members on its Science and Statistical Committee (SSC) from12 up to as many as 20 members. Although no new appointments were made during this Council meeting an Ad Hoc Committee was established and charged with the assignment to modify the current Statement of Operation* Practices and Procedures (SOPPs) to conform to the new Magnuson Stevens Act (MSA) requirement regarding use of the SSC for providing advice. Part of this assignment will be to ensure that the SSC will have appropriate disciplines* credentials* and independence.