Council Revises 2012 Harvest Limits,
Recommends Liberalization of Recreational Management Measures
|
Summer Flounder Stock Rebuilt
|
The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council met jointly with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Summer Flounder, Scup,
and Black Sea Bass Board last week in Williamsburg, VA to set catch and harvest limits for summer flounder and scup. Although the
Council had set limits for the 2012 fishing year in August, the Council received updated stock assessments in October that indicated the
previous recommendations for summer flounder and scup were too high. They also recommended recreational management measures for
summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass for 2012.
The Council and Board adopted a recreational harvest limit of 8.76 million pounds for the summer flounder fishery and conservation
equivalency. Conservation equivalency would allow individual states to develop recreational measures to achieve a state-specific harvest
limit. Although the proposed 2012 harvest limit represents a 26% decrease from the 2011 limit, landing estimates indicate that the
recreational fishery only landed 5.61 million pounds in 2011. As a result, some states may liberalize regulations in 2012.
During the meeting, the Council received notice that the summer flounder stock was rebuilt in 2010 (Letter from NMFS). "An important
milestone for the Council and our management partners has been reached" stated Rick Robins, Council Chairman. "The sacrifices of the
Mid-Atlantic's coastal fishing communities, together with our commitment to rebuild this stock, will allow for a highly productive summer
flounder fishery into the future."
The Council and Board also recommended a recreational harvest limit of 8.31 million pounds for the scup fishery--nearly double the 2011
limit of 4.40 million pounds. The Council recommended a 10.5 inch minimum size, 20 fish possession limit, and an open season all year for
federal waters. The Board approved conservation equivalency for state waters enabling the use of state specific measures.
The Council and Board recommended management measures to achieve the 1.32 million pound recreational harvest limit they had adopted
in August for the 2012 black sea bass fishery. For federal waters, the Council recommended an open season of January 1 through February
29 with a 12.5 inch minimum fish size and a 15 fish possession limit; and an open season of May 19 through October 14 and November 1
through December 31 with a 12.5 inch minimum fish size and a 25 fish possession limit.
"The Council's 2012 recommendations are expected to in result in improved recreational landings and access in the scup fishery, and also
clear the way for more liberal recreational management measures for summer flounder" stated Rick Robins. "The Council and Commission
worked to create an option for an opening of the recreational black sea bass fishery during January and February, 2013. This could provide
important opportunities for this fishery during those winter months as well."
A more detailed summary of the Council meeting can be found by visiting the Council website at: http://www.mafmc.org/.
**This press release will be available on our website in a downloadable PDF format in the coming days.
Please visit: http://www.mafmc.org/press
Kathy Collins
Kathy Collins
Public Affairs Specialist
Mid-Atlantic Fishery Council
800 N. State Street, Suite 201
Dover, DE 19901-3901
PHONE: 302-674-2331 EXT: 253
FAX: 302-674-5399
Email: Kcollins1@mafmc.org OR Kathy.Collins@noaa.gov
|
|
|
MSBA HOMEPAGE
|
|
