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(from Jersey Coast Anglers Association January 2004 Newsletter)
The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council approved the following recreational management measures for the 2004 summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass recreational fisheries. These measures are intended to restrict catch to meet recreational harvest limits.
Species Recreational Minimum Fish Possession Limit Open Season Harvest Limit Size
Summer Flounder 11.21 million state-specific state-specific state-specific lbs
Scup 3.99 million lbs 10" (EEZ) 50 fish (EEZ)
Jan 1-Feb 29 Aug 15-Nov 30
Black Sea Bass 4.01 million lbs 12"25 fish Jan 1-Sept 7 Sept 22-Nov 30
For state waters, the Board will develop a conservation equivalency system for scup in 2004. The Commission and Council adopted conservation equivalency for the 2004 summer flounder fishery, requiring the states to develop state-specific management measures (i.e., possession limits, size limits, and seasons). The states will develop management proposals and submit them to the Commission for approval in early 2004.
The 2004 scup recreational fishery will be managed under separate regulations for state and federal waters (see above table for federal regulations).
The Board approved conservation equivalency for scup fisheries occurring in state waters; management measures will be developed in early 2004. The Council approved the development of a framework to implement conservation equivalency for scup, allowing for consistent state/federal management.
The Commission established a 15,000-pound weekly trip limit for the 2004 Scup Winter I Period (January 1-April 30). Trip limits will drop to 1,000 pounds per week once 80 percent of the period's total quota (5.56 million pounds) is projected to be met. This action is intended to prevent an early closure of the fishery, thereby, allowing commercial fishermen the opportunity to land scup throughout the entire quota period. Industry members have voiced concern that this trip limit may not address the potential discard problem if the fishery closes early. As such, the Commission will begin developing an addendum in 2004 to address 2005 Scup Winter I Period trip limits. The Council will be forwarding its recommendations to NOAA Fisheries for final approval. The Commission's actions are final. For more information, please contact Toni Kerns, Fisheries Management Plan Coordinator, at (202)289-6400 or tkerns@asmfc.org .
