Council and Commission’s Boards Adopt Management Measures for 2005 and 2006

Council and Commission’s Boards Adopt Management Measures for 2005 and 2006

Landing Limits Increase for Summer Flounder and Black Sea Bass

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council met with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass and Bluefish Boards (Board) this week in Baltimore, Maryland to adopt 2005 and 2006 fishery management measures. The Council and Board recommended increases in the total allowable landing level (TAL) for summer flounder and black sea bass. The current TAL of 16.50 million pounds for scup was recommended to remain the same for 2005. The current bluefish total allowable catch (TAC) of 34.2 million pounds was likewise adopted by the Council and Board for 2005.

The table below summarizes the recommended fishery management measures for 2005 (in millions of pounds):

For 2006, the only fishery for which management measures were adopted was the summer flounder fishery. In this fishery, the TAL for 2006 was recommended at 33.0 million pounds, with 19.8 million pounds allocated to the commercial sector and 13.2 million pounds to the recreational sector.

Overfishing is no longer occurring on any of the four stocks and, but for bluefish, none is overfished. Based on the most recent summer flounder stock assessment that indicated an increase in biomass, the Council and Board adopted a TAL of 30.3 million pounds for 2005, and 33.0 million pounds for 2006, the highest summer flounder TALs ever. The new TALs have a 75 percent probability of achieving the target F of 0.26 in 2005 and 2006. The commercial fishery minimum fish size of 14 inches and commercial fishery trawl mesh size of 5.5 inches remain unchanged in 2005. In addition, there would be no change in the small mesh exemption programs for 2005. The research set-aside for 2005 would be as needed up to 3%. The Council and Board also supported a motion to encourage state directors to transfer commercial fluke quotas in quantities that result in 2005 and 2006 increases being allocated in nine equal shares.

The scup TAC for 2005 would be the same as this year, i.e., 18.65 million pounds with an associated TAL of 16.5 million pounds. The commercial possession limits however would be changed as follows: Winter I – 30,000 pounds per two-week (Sunday through Saturday) period with states implementing a two-week landing limit of 30,000 pounds. This trip limit would be reduced to a 1,000-pound trip limit when 80% of the quota is projected to be reached. The Winter II trip limit is recommended at 1,500 pounds per trip. The minimum mesh requirements would be increased to 5 inches, and the commercial minimum fish size of 9 inches would remain unchanged for 2005. The Council also voted to continue the GRAs in 2005 but move the entire southern GRA three longitudinal minutes farther west. The existing exemption program for scup would be terminated beginning in 2005. The Council also adopted a research set-aside of up to 3% for scup.

The stock biomass of black sea bass stock has continued to increase. As a result of this increase, the Council and Board adopted a TAL for 2005 of 8.20 million pounds. The Council and Board recommended no changes in the minimum fish size (11 inches) and minimum mesh requirements (4.5 inches). The minimum vent size in pots and traps would also remain status quo. The Council and Board also approved a research set-aside of up to 3%.

In the bluefish fishery, the Council and Board approved a TAL of 30.86 million pounds with 10.5 million pounds allocated to the commercial fishery as a quota, and 20.36 million pounds allocated to the recreational fishery as a recreational harvest limit. Possession limits in the recreational fishery would remain unchanged, i.e., a bag limit of 15 fish. Under the research set-aside program, up to 3% of the TAL for bluefish would be provided to fund research activities.

Council and Commission’s Boards Adopt Management Measures for 2005 and 2006

Landing Limits Increase for Summer Flounder and Black Sea Bass

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council met with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass and Bluefish Boards (Board) this week in Baltimore, Maryland to adopt 2005 and 2006 fishery management measures. The Council and Board recommended increases in the total allowable landing level (TAL) for summer flounder and black sea bass. The current TAL of 16.50 million pounds for scup was recommended to remain the same for 2005. The current bluefish total allowable catch (TAC) of 34.2 million pounds was likewise adopted by the Council and Board for 2005.

The table below summarizes the recommended fishery management measures for 2005 (in millions of pounds):

For 2006, the only fishery for which management measures were adopted was the summer flounder fishery. In this fishery, the TAL for 2006 was recommended at 33.0 million pounds, with 19.8 million pounds allocated to the commercial sector and 13.2 million pounds to the recreational sector.

Overfishing is no longer occurring on any of the four stocks and, but for bluefish, none is overfished. Based on the most recent summer flounder stock assessment that indicated an increase in biomass, the Council and Board adopted a TAL of 30.3 million pounds for 2005, and 33.0 million pounds for 2006, the highest summer flounder TALs ever. The new TALs have a 75 percent probability of achieving the target F of 0.26 in 2005 and 2006. The commercial fishery minimum fish size of 14 inches and commercial fishery trawl mesh size of 5.5 inches remain unchanged in 2005. In addition, there would be no change in the small mesh exemption programs for 2005. The research set-aside for 2005 would be as needed up to 3%. The Council and Board also supported a motion to encourage state directors to transfer commercial fluke quotas in quantities that result in 2005 and 2006 increases being allocated in nine equal shares.

The scup TAC for 2005 would be the same as this year, i.e., 18.65 million pounds with an associated TAL of 16.5 million pounds. The commercial possession limits however would be changed as follows: Winter I – 30,000 pounds per two-week (Sunday through Saturday) period with states implementing a two-week landing limit of 30,000 pounds. This trip limit would be reduced to a 1,000-pound trip limit when 80% of the quota is projected to be reached. The Winter II trip limit is recommended at 1,500 pounds per trip. The minimum mesh requirements would be increased to 5 inches, and the commercial minimum fish size of 9 inches would remain unchanged for 2005. The Council also voted to continue the GRAs in 2005 but move the entire southern GRA three longitudinal minutes farther west. The existing exemption program for scup would be terminated beginning in 2005. The Council also adopted a research set-aside of up to 3% for scup.

The stock biomass of black sea bass stock has continued to increase. As a result of this increase, the Council and Board adopted a TAL for 2005 of 8.20 million pounds. The Council and Board recommended no changes in the minimum fish size (11 inches) and minimum mesh requirements (4.5 inches). The minimum vent size in pots and traps would also remain status quo. The Council and Board also approved a research set-aside of up to 3%.

In the bluefish fishery, the Council and Board approved a TAL of 30.86 million pounds with 10.5 million pounds allocated to the commercial fishery as a quota, and 20.36 million pounds allocated to the recreational fishery as a recreational harvest limit. Possession limits in the recreational fishery would remain unchanged, i.e., a bag limit of 15 fish. Under the research set-aside program, up to 3% of the TAL for bluefish would be provided to fund research activities.