Arlington, VA – The Commission releases for public comment Draft Addenda on Recreational Measures Setting Process for Bluefish, Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass. The states of Maine through North Carolina have scheduled hearings to gather public input on the Draft Addenda between January 14 and January 29, 2025, and written comments will be accepted through February 15, 2025.
The Draft Addenda consider changes to the process used by the Commission and the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) to set recreational management measures (bag, size, and season limits) for bluefish, summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass. The Council is considering an identical set of options through a framework action. The option that is ultimately selected by the Commission and Council is intended replace the currently used Percent Change Approach implemented through the Harvest Control Rule Framework/Addenda, which will sunset at the end of 2025. The Draft Addenda propose five possible options for setting recreational measures. Taking final action on these addenda in 2025 will not implement any specific bag, size, or season limits, but start a new specification process for setting recreational management measures starting with 2026 measures.
Submitting Comments
The Draft Addenda are available at https://asmfc.org/files/PublicInput/RecMeasuresSettingProcessDraftAddenda_PublicComment_Dec2024.pdf or on the Commission’s Public Input webpage at https://asmfc.org/about-us/public-input. All those interested in the management of summer flounder, scup, black sea bass, and bluefish are encouraged to provide input either by participating in public hearings, which may be conducted in-person or via webinar, or providing written comment. Public comment will be accepted until 11:59 PM (EST) on February 15, 2025 and should be sent to Chelsea Tuohy, FMP Coordinator, at 1050 N. Highland St., Suite 200 A-N, Arlington, Virginia 22201; or at comments@asmfc.org (Subject line: Recreational Measures Setting Process).