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by Ed Cherry
(from Jersey Coast Anglers Association January 2005 Newsletter)
It is in the interests of all to attend this meeting and express your dissatisfaction with ASMFC
A public meeting is scheduled for New Jersey on January 5, 2005 at 6:30 p.m. at the Belmar Court Room, 601 Main St., Belmar, to review Amendment 1 of ASMFC Winter Flounder Plan. This is a particularly harsh and disturbing plan. A draft of the JCAA position put together by the JCAA Winter Flounder Committee on this plan is found elsewhere in this newsletter. It is in the best interests of the fishing public and parties that will be severely impacted by this plan to appear and voice your opinions. It will be your only and last opportunity to speak out against this plan.
Although this management plan will be approved very early in 2005 in some form or another, it is most likely the spring fishery of 2005 will not be affected, (but there is not a 100% guarantee of this). The fall fishery will definitely fall under the new rules or restrictions. The spring fishery of 2006 most certainly will be severely restricted if you don’t speak up. NOW IS THE TIME to voice your objections to the recreational and commercial options being presented. There is a Jan 7, 2005 deadline for written and emailed comments. Don’t wait until that late date to send in your comments.
Public comment will be accepted until 5PM on January 7, 2005, and should be forwarded to
Lydia Munger, Fisheries Management Plan Coordinator, 1444 Eye Street, NW, Sixth Floor, Washington, DC 20005; (202) 289-6051 (FAX) or at comments@asmfc.org
For more information,please contact Lydia Munger at (202) 289-6400 or lmunger@asmfc.org.
The plan in a nutshell
There are two preferred options being considered by the management board. They are as follows:
Option 1: 12 inch minimum size, a 6 fish bag limit, and a closure of March and April. (It should be noted that a huge portion of the recreational catch is taken during March and April).
Option 2: 12 inch minimum size, a 2 fish bag limit with the existing closed season of January and February and from June 1 through September 14. March and April are open to fishing!
It has been determined that if Option 1 is to be implemented in New Jersey it will result in a 45% reduction in the fishery. Option 2 if implemented would result in more than a 60% reduction in the recreational catch.
An increase in the size limit from 11" to 12" will result in about a 17% reduction in the catch. It is important that those who have an interest in the winter flounder fishery attend New Jersey's public meeting and express their opinion. This will be the only public hearing in the state concerning these new regulations.
The NJ recreational catch accounts for 59% of the total coastal recreational catch and NY accounts for 31%. 91% of the total recreational catch comes from the NY bight! What is being proposed is the equivalent of shutting the winter flounder fishery completely down! This plan is totally focused on New Jersey and New York, or at least the restrictions are so aimed. Please review our preliminary position on this issue. The final JCAA position will be presented, discussed and voted upon at the December 28 General meeting. MAKE SURE YOUR CLUB REPS ARE PRESENT AT THIS MEETING.
