Fisheries Management
The Interstate Fisheries Management Program (ISFMP) serves as the core of decision-making, where species management boards establish regulations to conserve fishery resources, supported by an active participation framework. The ISFMP Policy Board oversees this, monitoring stock performance and policy implementation with representation from all member states and several federal agencies.
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The Board approved Addendum VI in October 2019. The Addendum implements measures to reduce total striped bass removals by 18% relative to 2017 levels in order to achieve the fishing mortality target in 2020. The Addendum applies the needed reductions equally (proportionally) to both commercial and recreational sectors. Specifically, the Addendum reduces all commercial quotas by 18% and changes recreational bag and size limit requirements to achieve an 18% reduction in recreational removals relative to 2017 levels. Additionally, since recreational release mortality contributes significantly to overall mortality, Addendum VI implements the mandatory use of circle hooks when fishing with bait…
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In the fall of 2017, the Shad and River Herring Technical Committee (TC) identified several inconsistencies between state SFMPs and the requirements of Amendments 2 and 3. The Amendments require all states and jurisdictions to submit Sustainable Fishery Management Plans (SFMPs) for all systems that remain open to river herring and shad harvest. SFMPs must quantitatively demonstrate that fisheries will not have a negative impact on the stock.
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1) Update on the Summer Survey Work Group; 2) Review data from the Maine & New Hampshire inshore trawl survey, NEFSC 2018 fall survey, and the NEFSC summer survey tow calibrations; 3) Determine criteria for running a full stock assessment model versus performing a traffic light analysis; and 4) Setting tasks and timelines for completing the stock status report.
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An Advisory Panel conference call was held on October 1, 2019 to review the Board’s postponed motion which considers requiring circle hooks for the coastal sharks recreational fishery in state waters.
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The Advisory Panel (AP) met in person on October 16, 2019 in Linthicum Heights, Maryland to comment on Draft Addendum VI to Amendment 6.
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The Board made the following motion: “Move to task the TC with providing the Board with a report that shows the reductions in harvest needed to reduce F to F threshold (0.24) and F target (0.197) and also providing one example of recreational bag and size limit combination (if necessary, seasonal restrictions) needed to achieve these conditions a) on the coast and b) in the Chesapeake Bay and report back to the Board in May.”
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In order to streamline implementation of Addendum VI measures, the Atlantic Striped Bass Technical Committee (TC) met via conference call on October 10, 2019 to establish criteria for the development of conservation equivalency proposals with Draft Addendum VI.
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