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by Pat Donnelly
(from Jersey Coast Anglers Association April 1994 Newsletter)
The regs are in from the New Jersey Marine Fisheries Council concerning the 1994 Tautog (blackfish) season. You might remember that the Council has been debating recreational size limits to reduce blackfish mortality, but had not addressed similar mortality reducing regulations for commercial fishermen. Sounds typical, but here's where we are at.
Recreational fishermen will be fishing under an 11" size limit in 1994 and a 12" size limit starting in 1995. The implementation of these size limits will result in a 62% reduction in the recreational catch. But, as stated, there will be NO SIMILAR REDUCTION IN THE COMMERCIAL CATCH!
JCAA feels that it is not only necessary to impose quotas on commercial catches, but the Council should also take a serious look at gear restrictions, specifically the banning of roller nets, which are habitat destroying in nature. There has been a historical catch ratio of 91% recreational and 9% commercial for tautog. As a new plan is developed, it must address guidelines that will maintain this catch ratio.
JCAA requests that the Council act quickly on a comprehensive commercial tautog plan that follows these basic guidelines:
1. All persons interested in participating in the commercial tautog fishery must declare themselves by September 1, 1994.
2. Any persons handling tautog landings after January 1, 1995, who are not licensed as such, will be considered in violation.
3. Insure that a commercial quota be set to preserve the aforementioned historical catch ratio of 91/9.
4. Any underage/overage in a year's quota will be added/subtracted to the following year's quota.
5. The quota will be evaluated annually to determine whether further adjustments are necessary to protect the health of the fishery.
In order to create a functional plan, there is certain information that must be available. Participating ports, catch rates, historical landings and gear conflicts area all part of the picture. As a result, we ask that the Council act quickly to establish scoping meetings to gather the necessary information.
JCAA feels that the time for action on tautog management is now, before the fishery is allowed to collapse under the weight of the increased commercial pressure it is presently sustaining. The institution of a commercial quota, along with the enacted recreational size limits, should help to preserve this fishery in the years ahead, but only if the Council acts quickly to bring the commercial side of the equation under control..
Dr. Patrick (Pat) Donnelly is a member of the Manasquan Fishing Club and is chairman of the JCAA Blackfish Committee.