Summary of 4-7 October Council Meeting in Ronkonkoma, NY

The public The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council met in Ronkonkoma, NY from October 4 through October 7. During its meeting, it convened six of its committees, recommended dogfish management measures for the 2005/2006 fishing year, approved Amendment 2 of the Joint Monkfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for submission to the Secretary of Commerce, jointly convened a Research Set-Aside Workshop with the National Marine Fisheries Service and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission regarding the 2006 research program, elected officers for the 2004/2005 Council year, acted on United Boatmen’s and Recreational Fishing Alliance’s petition to allocate 50% of the total allowable landings of summer flounder to the recreational fishing sector, selected recipients for its Fishery Achievement Award, hosted a South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAFMC) public hearing on Amendment 15 to its Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources FMP, and received other various industry reports.

The Council re-elected Ricks E Savage as its Chairman, and Ronal Smith as its Vice-Chairman. Following their elections, the Chairman and Vice-Chairman assigned committee officers and members. A new committee, the Magnuson-Stevens Act Reauthorization Committee was established, and the Fishery Information Focus Committee was discontinued.

The Council and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Board voted to initiate development of Amendment 14 to the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass FMP to comprehensively address all aspects of the summer flounder fishery. Although the Council and Board will recommend to National Marine Fisheries Service that it will deny the United Boatmen’s and Recreational Fishing Alliance’s petition for a 50% share of the total allowable landings of summer flounder for the recreational sector, it is the expressed intent of both management authorities that this issue of allocation between the commercial and recreational sectors of the fishery be thoroughly addressed during the development of Amendment 14.

For the 2005/2006 dogfish fishing year, the Council approved an incidental take allowance of 4,000,000 pounds and a possession limit of 1,500 pounds of male-only dogfish, i.e., possession of female dogfish is prohibited. The 4,000,000 incidental take allowance is divided into two periods, May 1 through October 31 (2,316,000 pounds) and November 1 through April 30 (1,684,000 pounds).

Amendment 2 to the Joint Monkfish FMP passed unanimously. There are 17 actions contained in the motion, and they include such measures as closure of the Oceanographer and Lydonia Canyon areas to vessels using monkfish (or multi-species/monkfish or scallop/monkfish) days-at-sea. Roller gear on trawl vessels fishing on monkfish days-at-sea be restricted to a maximum diameter of 6-inches in the southern management area. For a complete list of actions incorporated in Amendment 2, contact the Council for additional details.

Sonja Fordham of the Ocean Conservancy, and the Virginia Marine Resources Commission were unanimously selected by the Council as recipients of its Fishery Achievement Award. The award recognizes individuals or organizations that the Council deems to have exhibited outstanding professionalism, diligence, and effort to protect the living marine resources and/or fisheries governed by the Council.

The Council also established Research Set-Aside priorities for the 2006 calendar year. A request for proposals will be submitted to National Marine Fisheries Service in November that reflects the actions taken by the Council.

Summary of 4-7 October Council Meeting in Ronkonkoma, NY

The public The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council met in Ronkonkoma, NY from October 4 through October 7. During its meeting, it convened six of its committees, recommended dogfish management measures for the 2005/2006 fishing year, approved Amendment 2 of the Joint Monkfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for submission to the Secretary of Commerce, jointly convened a Research Set-Aside Workshop with the National Marine Fisheries Service and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission regarding the 2006 research program, elected officers for the 2004/2005 Council year, acted on United Boatmen’s and Recreational Fishing Alliance’s petition to allocate 50% of the total allowable landings of summer flounder to the recreational fishing sector, selected recipients for its Fishery Achievement Award, hosted a South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAFMC) public hearing on Amendment 15 to its Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources FMP, and received other various industry reports.

The Council re-elected Ricks E Savage as its Chairman, and Ronal Smith as its Vice-Chairman. Following their elections, the Chairman and Vice-Chairman assigned committee officers and members. A new committee, the Magnuson-Stevens Act Reauthorization Committee was established, and the Fishery Information Focus Committee was discontinued.

The Council and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Board voted to initiate development of Amendment 14 to the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass FMP to comprehensively address all aspects of the summer flounder fishery. Although the Council and Board will recommend to National Marine Fisheries Service that it will deny the United Boatmen’s and Recreational Fishing Alliance’s petition for a 50% share of the total allowable landings of summer flounder for the recreational sector, it is the expressed intent of both management authorities that this issue of allocation between the commercial and recreational sectors of the fishery be thoroughly addressed during the development of Amendment 14.

For the 2005/2006 dogfish fishing year, the Council approved an incidental take allowance of 4,000,000 pounds and a possession limit of 1,500 pounds of male-only dogfish, i.e., possession of female dogfish is prohibited. The 4,000,000 incidental take allowance is divided into two periods, May 1 through October 31 (2,316,000 pounds) and November 1 through April 30 (1,684,000 pounds).

Amendment 2 to the Joint Monkfish FMP passed unanimously. There are 17 actions contained in the motion, and they include such measures as closure of the Oceanographer and Lydonia Canyon areas to vessels using monkfish (or multi-species/monkfish or scallop/monkfish) days-at-sea. Roller gear on trawl vessels fishing on monkfish days-at-sea be restricted to a maximum diameter of 6-inches in the southern management area. For a complete list of actions incorporated in Amendment 2, contact the Council for additional details.

Sonja Fordham of the Ocean Conservancy, and the Virginia Marine Resources Commission were unanimously selected by the Council as recipients of its Fishery Achievement Award. The award recognizes individuals or organizations that the Council deems to have exhibited outstanding professionalism, diligence, and effort to protect the living marine resources and/or fisheries governed by the Council.

The Council also established Research Set-Aside priorities for the 2006 calendar year. A request for proposals will be submitted to National Marine Fisheries Service in November that reflects the actions taken by the Council.