Alexandria, VA – The Commission’s Winter Flounder Board approved state proposals (ME through DE) for the implementation of Amendment 1 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Inshore Stocks of Winter Flounder. The approved winter flounder proposals were determined to meet the stock-wide conservation standards established in Amendment 1. These measures, in combination with those of Amendment 13 to Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish, are intended to initiate stock rebuilding for the Southern New England/Mid- Atlantic stock, which is overfished and overfishing is occurring. Amendment 1 also seeks to maintain a healthy and sustainable Gulf of Maine stock.
Amendment 1 stock-wide conservation standards are provided in the table below. States have the option of imposing more conservative regulations. For example, both Rhode Island and Massachusetts (SNE/MA stock) have implemented a four fish bag limit; size limit and season closure regulations remain consistent with the standard. Although the Board deferred action on New Jersey’s recreational fishery, it approved New Jersey’s proposed commercial management measures.
State plans must be implemented by July 31, 2005. Annual compliance reports will be due on November 1 of each year, beginning in 2006. For more information, please contact Ruth Christiansen, FMP Coordinator, at (202) 289- 6400 or rchristiansen@asmfc.org.