Mr. Preston P. Pate, Jr.

Chairman

Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission

1444 Eye St., NW, 6th Floor

Washington, D.C.  20005

Dear Chairman Pate:

I am writing to express my strong opposition to any plan that would force New Jersey to retain its 2005 summer flounder regulations in order to aid other states.

On February 22nd, the ASMFC's Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass Management Board will be reviewing summer flounder regulations for 2006.  It is my understanding that the Board and the Commission may consider the possibility of allowing New York, Massachusetts, and Connecticut to make smaller reductions this year based on the fact that states like New Jersey did not fish their entire 2005 quotas. 

As you know, the most recent data show that New Jersey underfished its Total Allowable Landings (TAL) for summer flounder by 30 percent in 2005.  This reduction was due to the state's decision to implement conservative regulations so that the stock could rebuild -- not so other states could take advantage of New Jersey's actions and avoid serious cutbacks of their own.

New Jersey's recreational anglers are already facing a number of quota cuts and increased restrictions for a variety of popular species.  It would be patently unfair to continue to punish them by preventing New Jersey from liberalizing its summer flounder regulations in 2006.  Moreover, a decision to punish New Jersey for underfishing its quota would seriously discourage future efforts by any state to adopt regulations aimed at rebuilding stocks.

I urge the Commission to reject any effort that would allow states that exceeded their quotas to benefit from New Jersey's underfishing.  I appreciate your consideration of this issue, and I hope you will not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,                                          

Frank Pallone, Jr.

Member of Congress

[News Contents] [Top]