Ronkonkoma, NY – The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission has approved Draft Addenda XV and XVI to the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Management Plan for public review and comment. Atlantic coastal states from Massachusetts through North Carolina will hold hearings in late October/early November to gather input from their constituencies (see attached list of hearings).
Draft Addendum XV proposes to establish an allocation program for the increase of approximately 1.3 million pounds in the 2005 commercial summer flounder fishery. The Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass Board approved the increase in total allowable landings in August. This September, industry members met to identify options for inclusion in the Draft Addendum. Two industry members from each state, Massachusetts to North Carolina, participated in a workshop. The options in the Draft Addendum are intended to address 2005, or 2005 and 2006 fishing years only.
Draft Addendum XVI presents options to address the impacts of delayed implementation of fishery management measures for summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass. The Draft Addendum presents a suite of management options, including commercial and recreational measures, and notification periods for the Commission and the states. These options aim to discourage delayed state implementation by requiring the “pay back” of the benefits that a state gained as a result of late compliance with an interstate fishery management plan.
The Board will meet to review public comment and take final action on the Addenda on November 8, 2004 in New Hampshire. States will be responsible for the timely implementation of all approved addenda, consistent with the schedule developed by the Board.
The Board and the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council voted to initiate the development of Amendment 14 to the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass FMP. The Amendment will comprehensively address all aspects of the summer flounder fishery, including the issue of allocation between the commercial and recreational sectors. Since the latter issue will be thoroughly addressed during the development of Amendment 14, the Board and Council will recommend to the National Marine Fisheries Service that it deny United Boatmen’s and Recreational Fishing Alliance’s petition for a 50% share of the TALs of summer flounder for the recreational sector.
The Commission and Council jointly manage summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass, meeting annually to establish commercial quotas and recreational harvest limits. The Commission’s actions regarding Addenda XV and XVI are taken exclusively under the states’ management authority, while Amendment 14 has been initiated in concert with the Council.
Both Addenda can be obtained via the Commission’s website at www.asmfc.org under Breaking News or by contacting the Commission office at (202) 289-6400. Public comment will be accepted until November 4. Comments should be forwarded to Toni Kerns, Fisheries Management Plan Coordinator, 1444 Eye Street, NW, Sixth Floor, Washington, DC 20005; (202)289-6051 or comments@asmfc.org (subject line: Addendum XV or Addendum XVI). For more information, please contact Toni Kerns at (202) 289-6400, ext. 330 or tkerns@asmfc.org.