(from Jersey Coast Anglers Association December 2005 Newsletter)

Here is the bad news on summer flounder. NMFS is going to set the quota at 23.59 million pounds.  This will be an extreme hardship on the both the recreational and commercial fishing industry.  Our only hope is that the states get some backbone but I do not hold out high hope for that.  The joint meeting of ASMFC and the MAFMC will take place on December 7th.  I have included that agenda below as well as the press release on the quota and the link to the NMFS web page.  I will be attending that meeting and so should you. It will take place at Trump Plaza Hotel, Mississippi and the Boardwalk, Atlantic City, NJ  08403 (telephone 609-441-6000).

At the end of NMFS press release they include the fact that they have no data to indicate this change will produce any negative economic impact to the industry.  The only way they can make that claim is because they never did any economic study.  I don’t care how dumb you are, if you cut the quota by 7 million pounds there will be a dramatic effect on both the commercial and recreational fishing industries.  The greatest impact will be on the recreational industry since summer flounder is one of the most important recreational fisheries throughout the Mid-Atlantic states.  A cut of 7 million pounds will be worth hundreds of millions of dollars.  Only in fisheries can we get away with either ignoring or refusing to accumulate economic data.  This would not happen in mining, forestry or any of the other natural resources.  But the President through the Department of Commerce, NOAA, and the National Marine Fisheries Service have proven that the fishing industry is treated as a second-class citizen. 

The real crime is that the average angler no longer believes in NMFS.  They don’t believe in MRFS and now we have proven they shouldn’t believe in the stock assessment.  At the summer flounder meeting in Atlantic City, Tom Siciliano pointed out that with a 30 or 40:1 ratio to get a keeper, the recreational anglers are catching almost every existing summer flounder in the water just to get a keeper to take home.  We know that is absurd and we also know NMFS must be completely underestimating the total stock.  However, no one is listening. 

I know the three commissioners from New Jersey will not support going to 23.59 million pounds.  They realize that this is totally absurd and will have the guts to tell the truth and vote accordingly.  They also know the recreational and commercial communities are watching and will not tolerate any support for this reduction.  If past history repeats itself, other state commissioners will kowtow to NMFS and vote in favor of the plan.  Remember, New Jersey was the only state in 1998 that voted against decreasing the quota by a few million pounds just to placate a few environmental groups. 

It is important for you to contact Dr. William Holgarth and explain your opposition to this lunatic proposal by December 2^nd .  It is also important to contact your three commissioners and make sure they know how you feel before the December 7^th meeting.  Two of your state’s commissioners are appointed by the Governor and you should write to him or her as well and let him know how you feel.  You can find out who represents your state by going to the ASMFC webpage.  We should also contact our congressional delegation.  The last time something this absurd was considered, Congressmen Saxton and Pallone sponsored a hearing and were able to force NMFS to reconsider.  We will need their help again.  You should also contact President Bush.  He appointed these people and is ultimately responsible for their decisions.  Let him know how unhappy you are and how detrimental this proposal will be to the overall economy of your state. 

Joint ASMFC & MAFMC Meeting Schedule

Trump Plaza, Atlantic City, New Jersey

Wednesday, December 7  8:30         Council convenes jointly with Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Board

8:30 - 11:00 Summer Flounder: 2006 Recreational Management Measures   Review and discuss Monitoring Committee's recommendations on summer flounder management measures.  Review and discuss Advisory Panel's recommendations on summer flounder management measures.  Develop and approve management measures for 2006 summer flounder recreational fishery.

11:00 - 12:00Scup: 2006 Recreational Management Measures   Review and discuss Monitoring Committee's recommendations on scup management measures. Review and discuss Advisory Panel's recommendations on scup management measures. Develop and approve management measures for 2006 scup recreational fishery

12:00 - 1:00 Lunch

1:00 - 1:30 Fishery Achievement Award Presentations Conservation Officer Sean Reilly of the New York Department of Environmental Conservation's Law Enforcement Division. Officers and crew of the USCG Cutter IBIS and Personnel of the USCG Station Manasquan Inlet

1:30 - 2:30 Scup: 2006 Recreational Management Measures – Continued Review and discuss Monitoring Committee's recommendations on scup management measures. Review and discuss Advisory Panel's recommendations on scup management measures. Develop and approve management measures for 2006 scup recreational fishery

2:30 - 4:30 Black Sea Bass: 2006 Recreational Management Measures Review and discuss Monitoring Committee's recommendations on black sea bass management measures. Review and discuss Advisory Panel's recommendations on black sea bass management measures. Develop and approve management measures for 2006 black sea bass recreational fishery

4:30 - 5:00 Finalize and adopt Council position regarding future system of joint management for Spiny Dogfish and Monkfish FMPs

Here is a link to the proposed rule: on Summer Flounder.

http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-22856.pdf

And here is a summary of the rule. The deadline for comments is December 2 :

Mid-Atlantic Lower Summer Flounder Quotas to Keep Rebuilding on Track; Public Comments Accepted through Dec 6

NOAA Fisheries Service has proposed new management measures for the 2006 summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass fisheries.  In June 2005, an assessment of the summer flounder stock indicated that overfishing is occurring.  Although the summer flounder stock continues to increase, it is increasing at a lower rate and is currently at a smaller size than previously forecast.  In light of the new assessment, the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council proposed a Total Allowable Landings (TAL) of 26 million lb for 2006, 2007, and 2008 -- a 14-percent decrease from the 2005 TAL of 30.3 million lb.

After careful review, NOAA Fisheries Service has concluded that the Council's summer flounder TAL recommendation fails to meet the minimum standard necessary because it would result in only a 25-to 30-percent probability of meeting the target fishing mortality rate.  The setting of an annual TAL with less than a 50-percent probability of achieving the target would be contrary to the objectives of the Fishery Management Plan (FMP), and would violate a Federal Court Order requiring that the TAL have at least a 50-percent probability of achieving the target.

Therefore, NOAA is proposing a 2006 TAL of 23.59 million lb, which has at least a 50-percent probability of achieving the target fishing mortality rate.  The proposed TAL is a 22-percent decrease for 2006 from the 2005 TAL of 30.3 million lb, and a 28.5-percent decrease from the previous specification of 33 million lb for 2006.  The initial TAL would be allocated 60 percent to the commercial sector and 40 percent to the recreational sector, as specified in the FMP. 

A table outlining the proposed allocations by state is provided in the proposed rule. These state quota allocations are preliminary and are subject to a reduction if there are overages of a state's quota for the previous fishing year.  In addition, NOAA Fisheries Service has conditionally approved four research projects for the harvest of the portion of the quota that has been recommended by the Council to be set aside for research purposes.  This proposed rule also would make changes to the regulations regarding the commercial black sea bass fishery.

December 2 is the deadline for submitting comments on the proposed changes.  Comments may be sent to: FSB2006@noaa.gov.  Please include in the subject line the following identifier: ``Comments on 2006 Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Specifications.''

For more information, contact Sarah.McLaughlin@noaa.gov.

ASMFC Meeting Report

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission held their annual meeting in New Jersey.  As you can see from the reports below, the summer flounder meeting proved to be an exercise in futility.  The striped bass committee determined there was no reason to take any action to change the striped bass regulation since the stocks seemed to be holding their own and we are below the target.  On weakfish, ASMFC decided to postpone any change in regulations until the peer review stock assessment is completed in 2006.  This means that you will not see any new regulations until 2007.  JCAA was proud that one of our own won the David Hart Award.  Rob Winkel received the most prestigious award ASMFC presents.  Rob well deserves this award and I was pleased to be in attendance when it was presented to him. 

ATLANTIC STRIPED BASS MANAGEMENT BOARD (October 31, 2005)

 Press Release

Striped Bass Stock Assessment Indicates Healthy Stock

Total Abundance, Female Spawning Stock Biomass and Recruitment Remain High

Galloway, NJ – Scientific advice presented to the Commission’s Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board today indicates that striped bass management under Amendment 6 to the Interstate Plan continues to be a success. The resource remains at a high level of abundance at 65.3 million pounds, 10 percent higher than the average stock size for the previous five years. Female spawning stock biomass (SSB) is estimated at 54.8 million pounds and is well above the SSB target and threshold levels of 38.6 and 30.9 million pounds, respectively. Recruitment of young fish (age 1) at 12.7 million is close to the average recruitment observed since the stock was first declared recovered in 1995.

            The stock is not overfished and overfishing is not occurring, with 2004 fishing mortality estimated at 0.40, below the Amendment 6 threshold of 0.41.  Total catch has risen to 5.2 million fish, a 33 percent increase since implementation of Amendment 6 in 2003. Recreational harvest and discards accounted for 72.5 percent of the total mortality, with the majority of fish harvested by anglers in Virginia, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Maryland and North Carolina. Commercial catch has risen slightly to 1.42 million fish, with Maryland commercial fisheries accounting for half of the harvest. 

Based on the advice of the Technical Committee, the Board maintained the states’ management programs at status quo. The Technical Committee will continue to monitor the status of the stock and refine stock assessment methodology as necessary. The next peer reviewed stock assessment is scheduled for 2007.

            Copies of the stock assessment will be available on the Commission website (www.asmfc.org under Breaking News) by mid-November.  For more information, please contact Lydia Munger, Fisheries Management Plan Coordinator, at (202)289-6400 or <lmunger@asmfc.org>.

WEAKFISH MANAGEMENT BOARD (November 2, 2005)

ASMFC Weakfish Board Approves Biological Sampling & Reporting Program 

Stock Assessment Slated for Peer Review in 2006

 Galloway, NJ – The Commission’s Weakfish Management Board has approved the biological sampling and reporting provisions of Addendum I to Amendment 4 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Weakfish to bolster data collection and improve future stock assessments. It also agreed to send the 2005 weakfish stock assessment forward for peer review. The Commission received extensive public comment in opposition to management measures proposed within the Addendum during public hearings and at the Board’s meeting. 

The collection of weakfish age and length data from the recreational and commercial fisheries is critical for use in conducting stock assessments. The biological sampling program under Addendum I makes several improvements over the Amendment 4 program. The new program was crafted to be more responsive to year-to-year changes in landings, which proportionately affect a state’s required level of sampling. Addendum I also establishes criteria for determining non-compliance, consequences of non-compliance, and how states can get back into compliance with the biological sampling requirement. States are required to implement Addendum I for the 2006 season. 

Copies of Addendum I will be available by December and can be obtained via the Commission’s website at www.asmfc.org under Breaking News or by contacting the Commission at (202) 289-6400. For more information, please contact Braddock Spear, Fisheries Management Plan Coordinator, at (202)289-6400 or bspear@asmfc.org.

Motions

Move to defer action on commercial and recreational measures of draft Addendum 1 pending completion of peer reviewed stock assessment.

Motion made by Mr. Colvin, second by Mr. Freeman. Motion carries.

Move that non-de minimis states that fail to collect required samples in a given year not be allowed to harvest weakfish until a plan for collecting samples is approved by the Management Board.

Motion made by Mr. Freeman, second by Mr. Travelstead. Motion carries.

Move for adoption of biological sampling and reporting program as outlined in Addendum 1.

Motion made by Mr. Colvin, second by Mr. Pope. Motion carries.

Move for adoption of Addendum 1 as dictated by the three motions passed by the Management Board effective February 1, 2006.

Motion made by Mr. Colvin, second by Mr. Pope. Motion carries.

Meeting Summary

The Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Management Board met to discuss a number of issues including the 2006 summer flounder specifications, Draft Addendum XVII and full utilization of scup in the winter fishery. After extensive deliberations, the Board decided to postpone setting the 2006 summer flounder specifications until its joint meeting with the Mid-Atlantic Council in December. The Board reviewed Draft Addendum XVI and approved the release of Draft Addendum XVI for public review and comment. Draft Addendum XVI outlines options to address delays in implementation of required management measures. The Board also discussed issues on scup management including what options are allowed under the FMP to address utilization of unharvested scup from the winter commercial scup fishery. ASMFC, in conjunction with the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, will review options for addressing these issues in upcoming amendments to the Scup Fishery Management Plan.    

For more information on summer flounder management issues, please contact Toni Kerns, Fisheries Management Plan Coordinator, at <tkerns@asmfc.org >. For more information on scup and black sea bass management issues, please contact Julie Nygard, Fisheries Management Plan Coordinator, at <jnygard@asmfc.org>.

Motions

Move to amend the 2006 quota from 33 million pounds to 23.59 million pounds.

Motion made by Dr. Pierce, second by Mr. Smith

 Move to substitute the 2006 summer flounder quota from 33 million pounds to 26 million pounds and set the 2007 and 2008 quota to no more than 26 million pounds. 

Motion made by Mr. Freeman, second by Mr. Pate. Motion passes.

Main Motion:

Move to amend the 2006 summer flounder quota from 33 million pounds to 26 million pounds and set the 2007 and 2008 quota to no more than 26 million pounds. 

Motion made by Mr. Freeman, second by Mr. Pate. Main motion fails for lack of a majority.

Move that the 2006 summer flounder quota be 23.59 million pounds. 

Motion made by Mr. Cole, second by Mr. Smith. Motion fails for lack of a majority.

Move that the 2006 summer flounder quota be 26 million pounds. 

Motion made by Mr. Augustine, second by Mr. Vasta. 

Move to postpone the motion until next meeting of this Board, which is the joint meeting with Mid-Atlantic Council in December. 

Motion made by Mr. Colvin, second by Mr. Travelstead. Motion passes. 

Move to approve the draft Addendum XVI for public comment. 

Motion made by Mr. Colvin, second by Mr. Adler. Motion passes.

Move that ASMFC in conjunction with MAFMC initiate an amendment to the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass FMP to define a rebuilding program for scup and transfer unharvested scup from the commercial winter 1 period to the summer period to be divided equally between recreational and commercial fisheries. 

Motion made by Dr. Pierce, second by Mr. Colvin. 

Move to postpone the motion until the December joint meeting of ASMFC and MAFMC. 

Motion made by Mr. Travelstead, second by Mr. Augustine.  Motion passes.

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