Fisheries Management & Legislative Report

Below is a press release from the NJ Environmental Federation.  EPA is proposing to allow radioactive material to be mixed with the sewage from current treatment plants and then dumped into the Delaware River.  EPA thinks dilution is the solution, but we know better.  Not only do anglers have to worry about contaminants in the fish but now we will be showered with radioactive material while we are fishing.  JCAA cannot support this contamination of the Delaware River. Just as the water quality is getting better, the government is looking at another way of causing a problem to the fish and anglers. The hearing will take place prior to publication.  Hopefully you received this information earlier if you are on my email list.  If you want to be on my email list, email me at tfote@jcaa.org or go to our webpage and fill out the form.

ATTENTION FISHERMEN AND BOATERS! 

Just when we thought it was safe to go back in the water the US EPA, the Camden Municipal Utility Authority and the Gems Landfill Trust (representing the polluters at the Gems Superfund Site) have agreed to ship radioactive contaminated wastewater from the Gems Superfund Landfill in Gloucester Township through the sewer pipelines of five municipalities to the CCMUA treatment plant in Camden City, for ultimate discharge to the Delaware River. By the time the radioactive radium and uranium is mixed with 50 million gallons of wastewater, “it will meet drinking water standards” as it goes into the river. A new fishing pier has just been built next to the sewage treatment plant. No calculations have been made about the accumulation of radiation in the river fish or sediments, but the CCMUA consultant’s report suggests “exposure due to recreational boating activities (in the Delaware River) be limited to 44 hours per year."  It estimates the “immersion dose” to be 0.06 millirems per year, “acceptable low” compared to the public exposure limit of 100 millirems per year. 

The point is, why should the river be the recipient of contaminated effluent from a Superfund site? Why should the public be exposed to any more radiation than necessary? There are better ways to remove radiation right at the GEMS site, through ion exchange or reverse osmosis filtration. The GEMS Landfill Trust is taking the cheapest way out, using the sewer system as it’s direct pipeline to the river, and thus avoiding having to remove radium and uranium contamination at the
GEMS site to the drinking water standard. 

If you think this deal stinks, join us at the public hearing on the permit on Wednesday, June 19, noon - 4 p.m. and 7 - 9 p.m. at the CCMUA administration building, 1645 Ferry Avenue, Camden - right next to the new fishing pier. Or call Freeholder Jeffrey Nash at 856-225-5468, and tell him that removal, not dilution, is the solution to pollution. As a recreational fishing and boating person, do you really want radium and uranium in your river? 

Jane Nogaki
NJ Environmental Federation 
223 Park Ave
Marlton NJ 08053
856-767-1110
856-768-6662 fax
janogaki@eticomm.net

I attended the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Meeting beginning May 21^st.  Below are the summary reports that are posted on the ASMFC webpage.  ASMFC is in the process of putting together an amendment on weakfish.  We're not sure when the public hearings will be held or the amendment completed.  I will monitor this process and keep you informed of any changes. 

There was a vote to send Amendment 6 to the Striped Bass Management Plan to public hearings.  Our public hearings should be in September if the plan is done.  JCAA does not have a summer general membership meeting and the public hearing may be scheduled before JCAA's September meeting.  In the past we have called a special meeting for the committee that deals with that species.  Clubs need to understand that delegates to the special meeting will have the authority to develop a position for JCAA prior to a public hearing.  Ed Cherry is the chairman of the Striped Bass committee and all club presidents and club representatives will receive information about a meeting date, appointing a delegate and the public hearing document.  There will be minor changes in the draft amendment currently posted on the ASMFC website.  We will need to discuss mortality rates and the consequences of each possible decision.  We have requested that ASMFC include the possible consequences for each mortality rate in the final document. 

The Virginia situation was resolved.  We have been discussing this for about 3 months and calling for ASMFC action.  They listened to our requests and the motion reestablishes a 98,000-pound quota for Virginia's ocean fishery.  Thank you for all your support.  Many other groups were active in resolving this issue. 

The Weakfish Management Board met to review public comment gathered on the Public Information Document for Amendment 4 to the Weakfish Fishery Management Plan and give direction to the Plan Development Team on the content which should be included in the draft amendment. The Plan Development Team will base draft Amendment 4 on this guidance and will include options on revised reference points, bycatch allowance, reference periods, data collection requirements, and other issues. In addition, the Technical Committee presented an update of the weakfish stock assessment, including some risk analysis, to the Board. For more information, please contact, Carrie Selberg, Weakfish FMP

Coordinator, at (202) 289-6400 or cselberg@asmfc.org.

The Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass Management Board met to review and approve state specific proposals for the 2002 recreational scup fishery and to develop final recommendations for Amendment 13 to the Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan. All recreational management proposals presented, which included options by New York and Rhode Island, were approved for implementation.

Amendment 13 to the Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan was recommended for approval by the full Commission. Amendment 13 will create a state-by-state allocation of the commercial quota until after the 2004 fishing year. In addition, the Board tasked the Technical Committee to determine if the Fmax value for black sea bass should be revised as a result of Board and Mid-Atlantic Fisheries Management Council actions that have increased the age at entry into the fishery. For more information, please contact Mike Lewis, Fisheries Management Plan Coordinator, at (202) 289-6400 or at mlewis@asmfc.org.

ASMFC Approves Amendment 13 to the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass

Plan: Plan Establishes State-by-State Black Sea Bass Allocations for 2003 and 2004

Washington, DC – The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission yesterday approved Amendment 13 to the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan.  Amendment 13 was developed jointly by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council and the Commission to manage the black sea bass resource in both state and federal waters. Amendment 13 establishes a state-by-state allocation of the commercial black sea bass quota for the 2003 and 2004 fishing years. During joint Commission and Council deliberations on May 1, 2002, both bodies determined that a management program which allows for state-specific regulations offers the most regulatory flexibility for each gear type used throughout the range of the species. The approved state allocations of the commercial quota are: Maine and New Hampshire - 0.5% each, Connecticut - 1%, Delaware - 5%, New York - 7%, Rhode Island, North Carolina and Maryland -11% each, Massachusetts -13%, and New Jersey and Virginia - 20% each.  The Board and Council also considered implementing regulations that affect the wet storage of black sea bass pots/traps, limiting the number of pots used by each fisherman and establishing a pot/trap tagging program. Based on substantial public input, both bodies determined to take no action and maintain status quo. Amendment 13 significantly modifies the current management program for black sea bass which operates through coastwide quarterly quota allocations. The intent of the quarterly allocation was to provide fishermen with the opportunity to land black sea bass throughout the entire quarter. However, early closures in quarters 3 and 4 of 1999 and 2000 have had serious economic consequences for commercial fishermen necessitating a change to the management program. Summer flounder, scup and black sea bass are jointly managed by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and the Mid-Atlantic Fisheries Management Council. The Council is scheduled to take final action on this amendment in June and will forward its management recommendations to the Secretary of Commerce. These recommendations will likely include a coastwide quota without seasonal breakdowns, while allowing the states to administer the state-specific allocations as described above. For more information, please contact Mike Lewis, Fisheries Management Plan Coordinator, at (202) 289-

ATLANTIC STRIPED BASS MGT BD

(May 23, 2002)Meeting Summary

State Hearings to be Held in Late Summer

Washington, DC – The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board today approved the Public Hearing Draft of Amendment 6 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Striped Bass. It is anticipated that most of the Atlantic coastal states will be conducting public hearings this summer and early fall. “This Draft Amendment has been a long time in the making, due to the complexity of issues surrounding striped bass management,” stated Board Chair, Lewis Flagg from Maine. “The document is designed to solicit public input on a number of difficult issues, not the least of which is allocation of the resource. Following the public comment period, the Board’s challenge will be to fairly weigh all the issues and create a management program that is equitable to all user groups.” The Draft Amendment provides extensive options for the long-range management of Atlantic coastal striped bass populations. The three primary issues addressed in the Draft Amendment include management program goals, objectives and planning horizon, modifications to the biological reference points, and allocation of the resource by user group and area. The document presents information on habitat issues, bycatch and discards of striped bass, monitoring programs, and protected species/fishery interactions. Commission staff will be revising the Draft Amendment based on today’s input from the Board. The tentative schedule is to complete the document and make it available for public comment by the end of June. States will then hold public hearings throughout the summer and possibly into early fall. The Board intends to review the public input in the fall, with final approval slated to occur during the Commission’s Annual Meeting in November 2002. For more information, please contact Robert Beal, ISFMP Director, at (202) 289-6400 or <rbeal@asmfc.org>.

### PR02-18

21

Motions

Move that Virginia restrict its coastal commercial fishery to a 98,000 pound quota, effective

immediately.

Motion made by Mr. Colvin, and seconded by Mr. Diodati; Motion carries unanimously.

Move approval of Draft Amendment 6 for public hearing purposes subject to inclusion of the revisions suggested today, and subject to final approval by the working group.

Motion by Mr. Borden, and seconded by Mr. Pate; Motion unanimously.

Move that this Board support a federal appropriation to investigate important striped bass health issues, including mycobacterial infections, ulcerative dermatitis and possibly nutritional and habitat relationships associated with these concerns; and further recommend staff and member states act in support of funding for a 5 year plan to study these matters.

 In a 21 day period, I spent 10 days in Washington DC, four days at the ASMFC meeting and 6 days at the meetings of the Marine Fish Conservation Network and the American Sportfishing Association.  When I first looked at the schedule in March, I expected to spend most of my time discussing marine protected areas and the Freedom to Fish Act.  I thought we might spend some time on the Magnuson Act but didn't expect that act to move this year.  Because of problems in the groundfish fishery in New England and other situations, there is more activity on the Magnuson Act than we expected.  A bill was introduced, amendments have been considered and there are alternative bills around.  We have all come to understand that the system is broken.  We need a process that is scientific rather than one that is driven by lawsuits.  We need a system that is flexible enough to develop plans even when scientific data is unavailable.  It is tempting to look for another quick fix but I have come to believe that we really need to take our time, consider all our options and, if necessary, start from scratch to build a system at the Federal level that can realistically work with all the user groups in a timely manner.  We need to stop putting our finger in the dike and spend the time it takes to really fix the system. 

Right now, the environmental community, the commercial community and the recreational community are at loggerheads.  When groups have competing messages and conflicting opinions, our representatives often choose to do nothing.  They are not likely to take a stand when they will alienate one of their constituencies.  Any piece of legislation is a compromise.  We need to find a way to work together on this act.  If we don't the lawsuits will continue and nothing positive will be accomplished. 

There are two commissions looking at the ocean.  One is the Pew Commission and the other is the President's Ocean Commission.  It is possible to be skeptical about any commission but perhaps these two groups can provide some leadership and bring the competing interests together.  I have suggested that members of both commissions meet and look at some fisheries issues.  I am looking for some common ground. 

This is the fourth reauthorization of the Magnuson Act that I have been involved in.  Each time we try to find some common ground and improve the system.  Some of our changes did not have the positive impact we hoped for.  Let's not strike out again!