Alexandria, VA – The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission approved Addendum XI to the Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan (FMP). Addendum XI addresses the 2004 scup recreational fishery, establishing regional regulations. A prior addendum addressed the 2003 recreational fishery. This document expired at the end of 2003, necessitating the development of a new mechanism for managing the recreational scup fishery in 2004.
Due to the increased landings of scup in the northern region, the states of Massachusetts through New York will be required to reduce their landings by 57 percent through a combination of bag/size limits and seasonal closures. States will have the opportunity to develop their regulations to meet the needs of their fishery. The Board will approve final regulations in March. Mode splits (i.e., regulations by fishing sector) will not be permitted with this addendum as they had been in the past.
Recreational measures were approved for New Jersey through North Carolina as well. The Board approved a 10-inch minimum size, 50 fish bag limit and a season of July 1 – December 31 for New Jersey. Due to the very low landings in the southern range of the species, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina will be permitted to maintain a 10-inch minimum size, 50 fish bag limit and open season.
The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council manage scup jointly. The Commission and Council meet each year to establish a commercial quota and recreational harvest limit. Both groups met in August 2003 to set the 2004 commercial specifications, including quotas, trip limits and mesh sizes. The Commission’s actions regarding Addendum XI are taken exclusively under the states’ management authority.
Copies of the Addendum can be obtained by contacting the Commission at (202)289-6400 or via the website at www.asmfc.org under Breaking News. For more information, please contact Toni Kerns, Fisheries Management Plan Coordinator, at (202)289-6400, ext. 330 or tkerns@asmfc.org.