Arlington, VA – The Commission’s Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Management Board approved for public comment Draft Addendum XXXV to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass. The Draft Addendum considers changes to two exemptions to the summer flounder commercial minimum mesh size requirements: the Small Mesh Exemption Program (SMEP) and the flynet exemption. These changes are being considered following industry feedback indicating the SMEP has become an important program to maintain the economic viability of businesses and the definition of a flynet should be updated to reflect modern gear configurations and use patterns. Specifically, the Draft Addendum considers moving the western boundary of the SMEP approximately five miles westward, changes to the review methodology of the SMEP, and updates to the definition of a flynet under the flynet exemption. The Mid- Atlantic Fishery Management Council is considering an identical set of options through a framework action.
Two public hearings to gather public input on Draft Addendum XXXV have been scheduled: one for the New England and Mid-Atlantic states (MA, RI, CT, NY, NJ) and one for the more southern states (MD, VA, NC). Both hearings will be conducted via webinar. Regardless of your state of residence, you are welcome to participate in either virtual hearing.
Submitting Comments
The Draft Addendum is available at https://asmfc.org/uploads/file/66d08c06SummerFlounderDraftAddendumXXXV_PublicComment.pdf or on the Commission’s Public Input webpage at https://asmfc.org/about-us/public-input. All those interested in the management of summer flounder are encouraged to provide input either by participating in public hearings, which will be conducted via webinar, or providing written comment. Public comment will be accepted until 11:59 PM (EST) on September 28, 2024 and should be sent to Chelsea Tuohy, FMP Coordinator, at 1050 N. Highland St., Suite 200 A-N, Arlington, Virginia 22201; or at comments@asmfc.org (Subject line: Summer Flounder Draft Addendum XXXV). For more information, please contact Chelsea Tuohy at ctuohy@asmfc.org.