Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council Press Release    

For Immediate Release - June 9th 2003

Summer Flounder Stock At Record Levels

Resource No Longer Overfished, Overfishing No Longer Occurring

Spring survey information released this week indicates the summer flounder resource has reached the highest levels ever recorded since the survey began in 1968. Information from this survey combined with 2003 survey data from the states and other Northeast Fisheries Science Center surveys, as well as data from the commercial and recreational fisheries, were used to update the assessment. Based on the 2003 Summer Flounder Advisory Report issued by the Stock Assessment Workshop (SAW) Southern Demersal Working Group this week, the summer flounder stock is no longer overfished and overfishing is no longer occurring.

"The robust recovery of the summer flounder stock is a direct reflection of the positive impacts that the management measures have had on the resource," said Dr. Christopher Moore, Council Deputy Director. "The Council and Commission should be extremely proud of the management decisions they have made over the years to rebuild summer flounder."

Spawning stock biomass has steadily increased each year since 1993 when Amendment 2 regulations were first implemented. In fact, spawning stock biomass increased 19 percent from 2001 to 2002. Total stock biomass as of January 1, 2003 was estimated to be 124 million pounds (56,100 mt), which is above the biomass threshold of 117 million pounds (53,200 mt). In addition, the estimate of fishing mortality for 2002 was 0.23 (18 percent exploitation rate), which is below the overfishing definition reference point of 0.26 (21 percent exploitation rate).

The Summer Flounder Monitoring Committee will meet in July to review the assessment and develop management recommendations for the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council and Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass Board The Council and Board will meet in August to review the Monitoring Committee's recommendations and adopt a total allowable landings level and other management measures for summer flounder for the 2004 fishing year.

For more information regarding the management and assessment of summer flounder, contact Dr. Christopher Moore at 302-674-2331 or email: cmoore@mafmc.org.