The following is a press release from the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission
FEBRUARY 7, 2008
ASMFC Finds New Jersey Out of Compliance with the Tautog FMP
Noncompliance Finding to be Forwarded to the Secretaries of Commerce and
the Interior
The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission has found the State of New
Jersey out of compliance with the mandatory management measures contained
in Addenda IV and V of the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Tautog.
The Commission will be notifying the Secretaries of Commerce and the
Interior of its finding. This action is taken pursuant to the provisions
of the Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act of 1993.
The State of New Jersey has not implemented Addenda IV and V's mandatory
harvest reductions, which require the state to implement a management
program that will achieve a 25.6 percent reduction in exploitation by
January 1, 2008. This reduction is necessary to initiate rebuilding of
the overfished tautog stock and to maintain effective cooperative
management of the tautog resource. According to the 2006 peer-reviewed
stock assessment, the tautog resource continues to be at low biomass
levels. Since the mid-1980s tautog has undergone a substantial decrease in
total and spawning stock biomass, with both currently at levels about
one-third of their historical averages.
To come back into compliance, New Jersey must implement management
measures that reduce fishing exploitation by 25.6 percent. Upon
notification by the Commission, the Secretary of Commerce has 30 days to
review the recommendation and determine appropriate action, which may
include a federal moratorium on fishing for tautog.
For more information, please contact Robert Beal, Director, Interstate
Fisheries Management Program, at (202) 289-6400.
