St. Simons Island, Georgia – The Commission’s Spiny Dogfish and Coastal Sharks Management Board increased its spiny dogfish quotas for the 2014/15 and 2015/16 fishing seasons (May 1 – April 30) in response to increases in spawning stock biomass. The 2014/2015 quota is now set at 49,037,000 pounds (previously 41,784,000 pounds) and the 2015/1016 quota is set at 50,612,000 pounds (previously 41,578,000 pounds), with a maximum possession limit of 4,000 pounds per day for the northern region states (Maine through Connecticut). Quotas for the northern region and southern states (New York through North Carolina) are provided in the table below.…
Press Releases
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St. Simons Island, Georgia – The Commission’s Horseshoe Crab Management Board has approved the harvest specifications for horseshoe crabs of Delaware Bay origin. Under the Adaptive Resource management (ARM) Framework, the Board set a harvest limit of 500,000 Delaware Bay male horseshoe crabs and zero female horseshoe crabs for the 2014 season. Based on the allocation mechanism established in Addendum VII, the following quotas were set for the states of New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia, which harvest horseshoe crabs of Delaware Bay origin: Delaware Bay Origin Horseshoe Crab Quota (no. of crabs) Total Quota State Male Only…
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St. Simons Island, GA – The Commission’s Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass Management Board initiated the development of a Draft Addendum XXV to the Summer Flounder Fishery Management Plan (FMP). The Draft Addendum will propose alternate management approaches for the 2014 recreational summer flounder fishery to achieve more equity in recreational harvest opportunities along the coast. It will include options that allow for the averaging of harvest estimates, mandatory regions, and the sharing of unused quota. Draft Addendum XXV is initiated to respond to the unintended consequence of using conservation equivalency (e.g., state-specific recreational management measures) to stay…
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Maine Commits to Develop Plan with Industry to Control Glass Eel Harvest
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St. Simons Island, GA – Yesterday, member states of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission acknowledged the many accomplishments of outgoing Chair Paul J. Diodati of Massachusetts and elected Dr. Louis B. Daniel of North Carolina as the new Chair of the Commission. In assuming the chairmanship, Dr. Daniel spoke enthusiastically about his new position, “I am honored to be elected and look forward to working with my colleagues from the 15 Atlantic coast states, federal marine fishery management agencies, the Potomac River Fisheries Commission, and the District of Columbia to ensure the continued conservation and management of Atlantic coast…
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Board Initiates Draft Addenda to Adopt New Reference Points & Considers Management Measures to Address Declines in Spawning Stock Biomass
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St. Simons Island, GA – The Commission’s American Lobster Management Board approved Addendum XXII to Amendment 3 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for American Lobster and Draft Addendum XXIII for public comment. Addendum XXII implements Single Ownership and Aggregate Ownership Caps in Lobster Conservation Management Area 3 (LCMA 3, federal waters). These measures are intended to enhance the ability of lobster business owners to plan for their future fishing operations as trap reductions are initiated. Draft Addendum XXIII contains information on habitat needs for American lobster and does not include any proposed management changes. Under Addendum XVIII, approved…
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St. Simons Island, GA – The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission presented Dr. Alexi Sharov and Jim Gartland with Annual Awards of Excellence for their outstanding contributions to the field of fisheries science. Both recipients demonstrate exemplary leadership and expertise as they work to support programs that promote healthy, self- sustaining fisheries populations. “Every year a great many people contribute to the success of fisheries management along the Atlantic coast. The Commission’s Annual Awards of Excellence recognize outstanding efforts by professionals who have made a difference in the way we manage and conserve our fisheries,” said ASMFC Executive Director, Robert…
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