BLACKFISH (TAUTOG) COMMITTEE REPORT

BY PAT DONNELLY

(from Jersey Coast Anglers Association - October 1996 Newspaper)

The following document represents the views of the Jersey Coast Anglers Association Tautog Committee. The JCAA represents over 30,000 anglers throughout the state on various topics. this position also reflects a consensus of opinion between the JCAA, the United Boatman of NY/NJ, and the Recreational Fishing Alliance.

The Atlantic States Marine fisheries Commission Tautog Fishery Management Plan was voted into acceptance at the March 11, 1996 Board meeting. Basically, the plan was the publicly favored North/south split, but the Board amended the Plan to move the line from Moriches Inlet to Delaware Bay. This put NJ in a position of complying with the coastwide requirements of the northern states. So much for regional regulation.

At the March meeting, the Plan coordinator stated that the data from NJ indicated a fishing mortality of 0.77. He stated that this information had been available since August 1995. This is interesting, in that the Public Hearing Summary dated January 1996 states; "The status of the resource in the region from New Jersey to Virginia could not be fully evaluated because of incomplete data." How is it possible that there could be data, considered incomplete in the 1/96 Summary, but used to amend the FMP one month later? This is simply another instance of the arrogance of the ASMFC, moving forward with a FMP without regard to public comment or education.

Before the lunch break at the March meeting, the Board Chairman asked the coordinator to revisit the North/South split. The first motion after the break was to allow for differences in the FMP from Delaware Bay-South. There had been no discussion of any of the preferred alternatives prior to the motion. To state that this FMP reflects a preferred alternative with a regional amendment is revisionist history.

At this meeting, the Commissioner from Virginia had the most cogent comment. "If this plan passes, it essentially gives ASMFC a free hand to regulate any state from here on out without adequate information to back it up...This plan will set a precedent." Our sentiments exactly.

It is the position of the aformentioned parties that New Jersey move forward with the plan begun by the NJ Marine Fisheries Council in 1992. This plan would be based on data solely from NJ, including rec/comm intercepts and age-length data. The JCAA believes that the proper management of tautog should be based on data collected in NJ waters. This matter will be discussed further at the JCAA general meeting on September 24, 1996.

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