The following is the text of a news release from the Atlantic States Marine
Fisheries Commission:
ASMFC Winter Flounder Board Fast Tracks Development of Addendum to Initiate
Stock Rebuilding of Inshore Stocks
Alexandria, VA - The Commission's Winter Flounder Management Board approved the
development of Draft Addendum I to Amendment 1 the Interstate Fishery Management
Plan for the Inshore Stocks of Winter Flounder. The Draft Addendum will propose
a suite of management measures to reduce fishing mortality on the inshore stocks
of winter flounder (0 - 3 miles). The range of management measures will include
zero possession limits;
commercial trip limits; recreational bag/size and seasonal limits; and measures
to prevent an influx of effort in state waters for Southern New
England/Mid-Atlantic (SNE/MA) and Gulf of Maine (GOM) stocks.
This action is taken in response to the findings of the 2008 Groundfish
Assessment Report Meeting (GARM III), which estimates that the SNE/MA stock is
at 9 percent of the target biomass (overfished) with overfishing occurring and
that the GOM stock is likely to be overfished with overfishing likely to be
occurring.
Another factor influencing the Board's action is pending federal management
measures on groundfish stocks, which will significantly reduce fishing mortality
on federally-managed groundfish stocks in offshore waters (3 - 200 miles).
Options under the Draft Addendum will seek to enhance stock rebuilding efforts
throughout the species range by reducing fishing related mortality on inshore
spawning stocks.
The Board will review and consider approval of Draft Addendum 1 for public
comment in March. If approved, the Draft Addendum will be released for public
comment and review in March/April, with state public hearings to be conducted in
April. The Board will meet again in May, during the Commission's Spring Meeting,
to review public comment and advisory panel
input, and consider final action on the Addendum.
