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This from the Asburry Park Press..
I do not expect Capt TB will have a problem with this one......
The Hard Way
Fluke anglers called to arms over proposed modifications
Published in the Asbury Park Press 06/5/05
- advertisements -
Fluke anglers in New Jersey could face reductions in daily limits and seasons and increased minimum sizes if they do not voice enough opposition to the proposed modifications to the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's fluke management plan.
New Jersey harvests more fluke than any other state in the nation. Obviously any changes to the management process will be of more importance to this state than any other.
So why does the ASMFC schedule a single public meeting on modifications to the management for fluke at 6:30 p.m. on June 29, a Wednesday, in Absecon? Why not at 7:30 p.m. at Belmar or Long Branch?
The first reason that comes to mind is that the ASMFC does not want a repeat of the winter flounder hearing last February in Belmar or, worse, the striped bass meeting in Long Branch years ago.
Listening to a possible crowd of 1,000 or more angry fluke fishermen demanding that New Jersey's regulations not be tightened further is not an ASMFC hearing officer's idea of a pleasant evening.
Tony Bogan, one of New Jersey's representatives on the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, said the scheduling is not fair to the state's fluke anglers.
"The half-day boats are only just getting in at 6:30," he said. "The biggest fishery we have in the state, and only one meeting and that in Galloway Township?"
Bogan said two public meetings at a convenient hour would be a minimum when the stakes are as high as this. Three meetings, as was done with striped bass last year, would be better.
The ASMFC wants to consider modifying the management plan by subdividing the recreational coastwide allocation into regions as an option under conservation equivalency, and begin a public dialogue to discuss the ability to average multiple years of data as well as multiple years of landings.
Bogan said the establishment of regions for allocation purposes could be especially dangerous.
When New Jersey gets lumped in with other states or regions, it often loses. Porgies, blackfish and winter flounders are prime examples.
"New Jersey wouldn't fit into a regional allocation plan," Bogan said. "New York has five fish at 17 1/2 inches and Delaware has had four fish at 17 1/2 inches for quite a while."
He explained that it is hard enough in New Jersey as it is, with south Jersey and north Jersey having different needs.
"New Jersey is No. 1," Bogan said. "We've always been the biggest harvester of fluke. If there was ever a case for two hearings and giving the people a chance to speak, this is it. You're talking about fluke, this is the biggest fishery we have."
Bogan said the proposal on regional management has been put forth with no explanation, no examples of what would have occurred had it been in place in recent years, no details of contemplated regions or whether it would be mandatory or voluntary.
New Jersey has been able to live within or very near its quota for the last three years. The eight-fish limit, 16 1/2-inch minimum and season running from early May through early October has enabled the state to maintain a stable harvest.
New York, on the other hand, the second largest harvester of fluke, has exceeded its quota for two years even with a higher minimum.
"It seems unlikely that New Jersey will be anything but worse off by being lumped in with other states," Bogan said. "We have said we will look at the proposal, but being put in a region with other states having all the same regulations could be a big problem."
Bogan said fluke fishermen, and particularly professional boatmen ? party and charter boat owners and captains ? should get involved.
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I do not expect Capt TB will have a problem with this one......
The Hard Way
Fluke anglers called to arms over proposed modifications
Published in the Asbury Park Press 06/5/05
- advertisements -
Fluke anglers in New Jersey could face reductions in daily limits and seasons and increased minimum sizes if they do not voice enough opposition to the proposed modifications to the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's fluke management plan.
New Jersey harvests more fluke than any other state in the nation. Obviously any changes to the management process will be of more importance to this state than any other.
So why does the ASMFC schedule a single public meeting on modifications to the management for fluke at 6:30 p.m. on June 29, a Wednesday, in Absecon? Why not at 7:30 p.m. at Belmar or Long Branch?
The first reason that comes to mind is that the ASMFC does not want a repeat of the winter flounder hearing last February in Belmar or, worse, the striped bass meeting in Long Branch years ago.
Listening to a possible crowd of 1,000 or more angry fluke fishermen demanding that New Jersey's regulations not be tightened further is not an ASMFC hearing officer's idea of a pleasant evening.
Tony Bogan, one of New Jersey's representatives on the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, said the scheduling is not fair to the state's fluke anglers.
"The half-day boats are only just getting in at 6:30," he said. "The biggest fishery we have in the state, and only one meeting and that in Galloway Township?"
Bogan said two public meetings at a convenient hour would be a minimum when the stakes are as high as this. Three meetings, as was done with striped bass last year, would be better.
The ASMFC wants to consider modifying the management plan by subdividing the recreational coastwide allocation into regions as an option under conservation equivalency, and begin a public dialogue to discuss the ability to average multiple years of data as well as multiple years of landings.
Bogan said the establishment of regions for allocation purposes could be especially dangerous.
When New Jersey gets lumped in with other states or regions, it often loses. Porgies, blackfish and winter flounders are prime examples.
"New Jersey wouldn't fit into a regional allocation plan," Bogan said. "New York has five fish at 17 1/2 inches and Delaware has had four fish at 17 1/2 inches for quite a while."
He explained that it is hard enough in New Jersey as it is, with south Jersey and north Jersey having different needs.
"New Jersey is No. 1," Bogan said. "We've always been the biggest harvester of fluke. If there was ever a case for two hearings and giving the people a chance to speak, this is it. You're talking about fluke, this is the biggest fishery we have."
Bogan said the proposal on regional management has been put forth with no explanation, no examples of what would have occurred had it been in place in recent years, no details of contemplated regions or whether it would be mandatory or voluntary.
New Jersey has been able to live within or very near its quota for the last three years. The eight-fish limit, 16 1/2-inch minimum and season running from early May through early October has enabled the state to maintain a stable harvest.
New York, on the other hand, the second largest harvester of fluke, has exceeded its quota for two years even with a higher minimum.
"It seems unlikely that New Jersey will be anything but worse off by being lumped in with other states," Bogan said. "We have said we will look at the proposal, but being put in a region with other states having all the same regulations could be a big problem."
Bogan said fluke fishermen, and particularly professional boatmen ? party and charter boat owners and captains ? should get involved.
Go Back | Subscribe to the Asbury Park Press
