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by Gary Dickerson
(from Jersey Coast Anglers Association April 1994 Newsletter)
The 1994 Fluke season will begin on April 30, 1994 and run through to October 30,1994. This represents an increase of 30 days from the 1993 season. The bag limit has been increased to 8 fish per angler per day with a 14” size limit. We should all thank the New Jersey Division of Fish , Game and Wildlife for circumventing normal procedures and getting this new law on the books, so the recreational season could begin on time on April 30th. The Mid-Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Council approved a 28% percent increase for both recreational and commercial fishermen in 1994. The commercial fishermen had their quota increased and we had our season and bag limit increased as described, ostensibly to help us increase the recreational catch to levels as allowed under the increased cap.
During the 1993 season, recreational landings amounted to 6.2 million pounds, which translates into 4.69 million fish (with an average weight of 1.3 pounds). In 1993, the recreational cap was to be 8.38 million pounds, which the council said would consist of 4.36 million fish with a projected average weight of 1.9 pounds) each. In reality, the recreational catch was 16.6 million fish, of which we kept 4.69 million fish because of a short to keeper ratio of four throw backs for every legal keeper. The average keeper weighed 1.3 pounds, not the 1.9 pounds the Council projected. Our share of this public resource is supposedly based on a 60-40 ratio. We did not meet our 40% percent. In actuality, we accounted for only 32% of landings for 1993. There were 4 states that were not in compliance with the plan in 1993 that will be in compliance in 1994. So, what does all of this mean and were we treated fairly?
After falling 2.2 million pounds short of our allotment in 1993, what are the chances that we will be able to reach our 1994 allotment of 10.67 million pounds? The season has been increased by 30 days and our bag limit increased to 8 fish, but even with these increases, there is little chance recreational fishermen will even come close to the 1994 cap. If we were to double our landings from 1993, something that is highly unlikely, we would only be 700,000 pounds over the cap for the year and what do you think the chances of doubling the catch are under the new regime?
The bottom line is that anglers should have been granted a 10 fish bag limit. Even at 10 fish with the extended season, the chances of our exceeding our allotment is remote. All states in the Mid-Atlantic region are now in compliance with the plan, which means an even greater drop in the recreational catch from the year before, since four major fluke catching states were fishing out of compliance in 1993, taking far more than they would have been allowed under the plan. Now, that's over, But the question remains. Will recreational fisherman reach their quota for 1994, and my gut feeling is - not hardly! The argument I've heard presented is that it is better to take a conservative approach, to err on the side of conservation, on the recreational side of the plan, but it is also just fine to spend a few hundred thousand dollars to make sure the commercial side can maximize their catch. They are given every chance to catch every last pound of fluke they are permitted under the plan, but the recreational side of the equation must "err on the side of conservation." What a load of manure.
If the recreational community were to exceed the harvest limit in 1994, it would be deducted from the following year's cap allotment, so no damage done. We were shorted 2.2 million pounds last year, but there was no talk about adding it on to this seasons allotment. It became our contribution to conservation, which will probably end up being given to the commercial side as a little bonus, some time in the future. Why is it that the recreational side must be the only group to work in the spirit of conservation. The managers certainly don't! By the way the commercial fishermen in New Jersey exceeded their quota by 400,000 pounds last year. Were they asked to share in the conservation think mode by reducing their catch 2.2 million pounds? Need you ask.
Gary Dickerson is a member of the Manasquan Fishing Club, past president and vice president of JCAA, chairman of the Fluke Committee and a JCAA Trustee. He can be reached at 908-892-4668.