News Release Archives - May 2012

Release: Immediate
Contact: Sustainable Fisheries
Phone: 727-824-5305; FAX 727-824-5308
Date: May 30, 2012

Recreational Harvest of Golden Tilefish in the South Atlantic Waters is Closing on June 8, 2012

Recreational harvest of golden tilefish in the South Atlantic waters will close, at 12:01 a.m. (local time) June 8, 2012. Recreational harvest will reopen at 12:01 a.m. (local time) on January 1, 2013. The 2012 recreational catch limit is 1,578 fish. The accountability measure for golden tilefish requires that the 2012 fishing season be shortened if the average 2010 and 2011 recreational landings exceed the annual catch limit. Reports indicate the average 2010 and 2011 landings exceeded the annual catch limit; therefore, the recreational harvest of golden tilefish should close as soon as possible.

During the closure:

• Recreational harvest or possession of golden tilefish is prohibited.
• The closure applies in both state and federal waters for vessels which have a valid charter/headboat permit for South Atlantic Snapper-Grouper.

This closure is necessary to protect the golden tilefish resource. Currently, there is a regulatory amendment under review which could result in an increase to the annual catch limit for golden tilefish in coming years.

Commercial harvest of golden tilefish for the 2012 fishing year closed on February 17, 2012. Therefore, all harvest of golden tilefish is prohibited in South Atlantic waters until January 1, 2013.

This bulletin provides only a summary of the existing regulations. Full regulations can be found in the Federal Register.

FB12-039

Release: Immediate
Contact: Tina Berger
Phone: 703-842-0740
Date: May 30, 2012

This release revises New Jersey’s public hearing date from July 11 to July 12.

States Schedule Hearings on Black Drum Public Information Document

Arlington, Va. — The States of New Jersey, Delaware, North Carolina and the Commonwealth of Virginia have scheduled their hearings to gather public comment on the Public Information Document (PID) to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Black Drum. The PID provides the public an opportunity to submit input on the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's development of a Black Drum FMP. Public comment is being solicited on changes observed in the fishery; actions to be taken in terms of management, enforcement, and research; and any other concerns about the resource or fishery. The dates, times, and locations of the scheduled meetings follow.

New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife
July 12, 2012; 7 p.m.
Galloway Township Branch of the
Atlantic County Library
306 East Jimmie Leeds Road
Galloway, NJ
Contact: Russ Allen at 609-748-2020

Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control
June 12, 2012; 7 p.m.
DNREC Auditorium
89 Kings Highway
Dover, DE
Contact: Stewart Michels at 302-739-9914

Virginia Marine Resources Commission
July 10, 2012; 6 p.m.
VMRC Conference Room
2600 Washington Avenue, 4th Floor
Newport News, VA
Contact: Rob O’Reilly at 757-247-2248

North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries
July 9, 2012; 6 p.m.
Central District Office
5285 U.S. Highway 70 West
Morehead City, NC
Contact: Chris Stewart at 910-796-7370

The Commission's South Atlantic State-Federal Fisheries Management Board approved the PID to the Black Drum FMP for public review and comment in May. As the first step in the development of the FMP, the PID presents the current status of the fishery and resource, and solicits public input on all aspects of the fishery and the resource. The FMP is being initiated in response to concern regarding significant increases in harvest in recent years and the fact that the fishery primarily targets juveniles. The Commission is also moving forward with conducting the first coastwide assessment of this species.

The assessment will be developed concurrently with the FMP to support establishment of the interstate management program

Fishermen and other interested groups are encouraged to provide input on the PID either by attending public hearings or providing written comments. The PID can be obtained via the Commission’s website at www.asmfc.org under "Breaking News" or by contacting the Commission at 703-842-0740. Public comment will be accepted until 5 p.m. (EST) on July 25, 2012 and should be forwarded to Danielle Chesky, FMP Coordinator, Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, 1050 N. Highland St, Suite 200A-N, Arlington, VA 22201; 703-842-0741 (FAX) or at dchesky@asmfc.org (Subject line: Black Drum PID). For more information, please contact Danielle Chesky at dchesky@asmfc.org or 703-842-0740.

PR12-31a

Release: Immediate
Contact: Tina Berger
Phone: 703-842-0740
Date: May 23, 2012

States Schedule Hearings on Black Drum Public Information Document

Arlington, Va. — The States of New Jersey, Delaware, North Carolina and the Commonwealth of Virginia have scheduled their hearings to gather public comment on the Public Information Document (PID) to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Black Drum. The PID provides the public an opportunity to submit input on the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's development of a Black Drum FMP.  Public comment is being solicited on changes observed in the fishery; actions to be taken in terms of management, enforcement, and research; and any other concerns about the resource or fishery. The dates, times, and locations of the scheduled meetings follow.

New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife
July 11, 2012; 7 p.m.
Galloway Township Branch of the
Atlantic County Library
306 East Jimmie Leeds Road
Galloway, NJ
Contact: Russ Allen at 609-748-2020

Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control
June 12, 2012; 7 p.m.
DNREC Auditorium
89 Kings Highway
Dover, DE
Contact: Stewart Michels at 302-739-9914

Virginia Marine Resources Commission
July 10, 2012; 6 p.m.
VMRC Conference Room
2600 Washington Avenue, 4th Floor
Newport News, VA
Contact: Rob O’Reilly at 757-247-2248

North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries
July 9, 2012; 6 p.m.
Central District Office
5285 U.S. Highway 70 West
Morehead City, NC
Contact: Chris Stewart at 910-796-7370

The Commission's South Atlantic State-Federal Fisheries Management Board approved the PID to the Black Drum FMP for public review and comment in May. As the first step in the development of the FMP, the PID presents the current status of the fishery and resource, and solicits public input on all aspects of the fishery and the resource. The FMP is being initiated in response to concern regarding significant increases in harvest in recent years and the fact that the fishery primarily targets juveniles. The Commission is also moving forward with conducting the first coastwide assessment of this species.

The assessment will be developed concurrently with the FMP to support establishment of the interstate management program

Fishermen and other interested groups are encouraged to provide input on the PID either by attending public hearings or providing written comments. The PID can be obtained via the Commission's website at www.asmfc.org under "Breaking News" or by contacting the Commission at 703.842.0740. Public comment will be accepted until 5 p.m. (EST) on July 25, 2012 and should be forwarded to Danielle Chesky, FMP Coordinator, Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, 1050 N. Highland St, Suite 200A-N, Arlington, VA 22201; 703-842-0741 (FAX) or at dchesky@asmfc.org (Subject line: Black Drum PID). For more information, please contact Danielle Chesky at dchesky@asmfc.org or 703-842-0740.

PR12-31

Release: Immediate
Contact: Tina Berger
Phone: 703-842-0740
Date: May 22, 2012

States Schedule Public Hearings on Atlantic Striped Bass Addendum III

Arlington, Va. — Atlantic coastal states from Massachusetts through North Carolina have scheduled their hearings to gather public comment on Draft Addendum III to Amendment 6 to the Atlantic Striped Bass Fishery Management Plan. The dates, times, and locations of the scheduled meetings follow.

Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries
June 5, 2012; 7 p.m.
Hanover High School
287 Cedar Street
Hanover, MA
Contact: Nichola Meserve at 617-626-1531

Rhode Island Division of Fish and Wildlife
June 6, 2012; 6 p.m.

URI Narragansett Bay Campus
Corless Auditorium
South Ferry Road
Narragansett, RI
Contact: Nicole Travisono at 401-423-1940

New York Dept. of Environmental Conservation
July 21, 2012; 7 p.m.
NYSDEC Bureau of Marine Resources
205 N Belle Mead Road, Suite 1
East Setauket, NY
Contact: James Gilmore at 631-444-0430

Delaware Dept. of Natural Resources and Environmental Control
June 7, 2012; 7 p.m.
DNREC Auditorium
89 Kings Highway
Dover, DE
Contact: John Clark at 302-739-9914

Maryland Dept. of Natural Resources
June 5, 2012; 6 p.m.
Maryland DNR Fisheries Service
580 Taylor Avenue
Annapolis, MD
Contact: Mike Luisi at 410-260-8341

Virginia Marine Resources Commission
June 18, 2012; 6 p.m.
2600 Washington Avenue
Fourth Floor Conference Room
Newport News, VA
Contact: Rob O’Reilly at 757-247-2236

North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries
June 19, 2012; 6 p.m.
Dare County Administrative Building
Dare County Commissioners Meeting Room
954 Marshall C. Collins Drive
Manteo, NC
Contact: Kathy Rawls at 252-264-3911

The Draft Addendum proposes implementing a mandatory commercial tagging program for all states or jurisdictions with commercial striped bass fisheries and increasing penalties for illegally harvested fish. These options are intended to help prevent commercial striped bass quota overages and the illegal harvest of striped bass; both of which have the potential to undermine the sustainability of striped bass populations, as well as reduce the economic opportunities of commercial fishermen who are legally participating in the fishery. Options under consideration in the implementation of a tagging program include increased accounting of unused tags, timely reporting of catch, the point at which tagging must occur, standardization of tag type, and development of biological metrics for determining state/jurisdiction tag quantity.

The Draft Addendum responds to recommendations of the Interstate Watershed Task Force (IWTF). The IWTF conducted a multi-year, multi-jurisdictional investigation on illegal commercial striped bass harvest within Chesapeake Bay which resulted in over $1.6 million dollars in fines levied against 19 individuals and three corporations for more than one million pounds of illegal striped bass harvested estimated to be worth up to seven million dollars. The investigation revealed that some of the control measures in place for regulating the harvest of striped bass were ineffective or inadequately designed to maximize compliance. The investigation also found that greater accountability of wholesalers would be difficult to achieve without uniform tags (colors, design) and tagging requirements, valid year and size limits inscribed on tags, and increased dealer compliance education.

Fishermen and other interested groups are encouraged to provide input on the Draft Addendum either by attending state public hearings or providing written comment. The Draft Addendum is available on the Commission website (www.asmfc.org) under "Breaking News" or by contacting the Commission at 703-842-0740. Public comment will be accepted until 5:00 p.m. (EST) on July 13, 2012 and should be forwarded to Kate Taylor, Fishery Management Plan Coordinator, at 1050 N. Highland St., Suite 200 A-N, Arlington, VA 22201; 703-842-0741 (FAX) or ktaylor@asmfc.org (Subject line: Atlantic Striped Bass Draft Addendum III).

PR12-30