Alexandria, VA – The Spiny Dogfish & Coastal Sharks Management Board approved the initiation of two addenda to address the distribution of the spiny dogfish annual quota among the states. This action responds to the concern of some states that the current seasonal allocation program is not providing their commercial fishermen the opportunity to harvest the available quota as was intended by the Interstate Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Spiny Dogfish.
Currently, the interstate spiny dogfish management program allocates the annual commercial quota both seasonally and regionally. The seasonal allocation system divides the quota into two periods, with 57.9% of the quota harvested from May 1 to October 31 and 42.1% harvested from November 1 to April 30. The regional allocation system divides the quota between two regions, with 58% allocated to the northern states (ME – CT) and 42% allocated to the southern states (NY-NC). Both allocation schemes were established to allow all states the opportunity to access and land available quota based on historical landings percentages. In recent years, however, the seasonal allocation strategy, which is influenced by dogfish migratory patterns, has resulted in overages of the northern quota share and reduced access to the resource by the southern states.
The first addendum (Draft Addendum II) will propose the elimination of the current seasonal allocation system, while maintaining the standing regional allocation system. To ensure that the regions stay within their allocation of the annual quota and maintain the conservation goals of the plan, the addendum will propose that regions be required to payback quota overages in the following year. It is the Board’s intent that this addendum will ensure southern states receive 42% of the annual quota while Addendum III is developed.
The second addendum (Draft Addendum III) will provide options for the establishment of a state-by-state allocation system, including a provision that would allow quota transfers between states. The Board has requested that the states submit issues and ideas for inclusion in the draft addendum.
Both addenda will be developed for consideration by the Board during the Commission’s the Summer Meeting in August. For more information, please contact Christopher Vonderweidt, Fisheries Management Plan Coordinator, at (202) 289-6400 or cvonderweidt@asmfc.org.