No good Sea bass News..

[Capt. Carl]

Written by Capt. Adam........

The Mid-Atlantic Council met this week in Long Branch, and in yesterday's report from the Northeast Office (NMFS), it was announced that the Feds were pursuing an emergency closure of the black sea bass fishery in federal waters for the remainder of 2012.

This is a result of the 2012 landings through August are at 2.3 million lbs. and our coastwide quota for 2012 was less than 1.4 million lbs. This closure comes partially as a result of the Council Omnibus Amendment from a couple years back. If not for the fight lead by the RFA at that time, this closure would have likely been levied much earlier this year. But NMFS had to wait until landings exceeded the year's target as opposed to just basing things on projections. (August data showed that 1.1 million lbs. had been caught in May and June. Projecting that out would have likely resulted in emergency closure action being pursued at that
time.)

So where to now? Well, next week the states will be meeting in Philadelphia, and on Thursday, a discussion of a closure of state waters will no doubt occur (ASMFC Summer Flounder, Scup, Black Sea Bass Management Board). A few years back the states did not close state waters when NMFS closed Federal waters, but the result of this discussion may be different this time in consideration of the ramifications for 2013.Part of the above referenced Omnibus Amendment calls for recreational lb.-for-lb. payback of overages. Overages are supposed to be averaged over a 3 year period, but this is the first year operating under this system so we only have one year of data. The math, although straightforward, is ugly. 2.3 million lbs. landed through August. September and half of October fishing occurred. 3+ million lbs. of landings according to MRFSS/MRIP is very possible. If we land 3.2 million lbs. (numbers to be reported in December), we will have exceeded our 2012 quota by 1.8 million lbs. (3.2 million lbs. of landings vs. 1.4 million lb. harvest limit, these are approximations). Our 2013 quota is 1.8 million lbs. Deduct a 1.8 million lb. 2012 overage from a 1.8 million lb. 2013 quota and we are left with - NOTHING FOR 2013.Right now, I don't know what this means for Jan/Feb sea bass fishing. Currently, the federal rule has the season open then and the state of NJ has done its diligence in being ready to open the season. But as a result of the above, the closure may extend well into 2013.

We won't know until NMFS publishes its notice of emergency action in the next couple of weeks.While I can't guarantee anything, I can assure you that a lot of people will be working overtime on this, not just at the RFA, but I believe the Council and NMFS recognize that this outcome is unacceptable for a rebuilt stock where overfishing is not occurring. (Remember, overfishing by definition doesn't have to do with the quota but is instead of a measure of taking too many fish for the stock to remain sustainable. The Black Sea Bass overfishing limit is actually well over 7 million lbs. Although that number has uncertainty around it, even when you add the high rec landings with the commercial landings, we are still well below the overfishing level.)

In addition to working with the Council and NMFS, RFA will also be working hard on political fronts as this is just further ammunition of the threat to fishing that an unreformed Magnuson Stevens Act poses. Thanks to all of you, and I hope that we'll have something better to report in the coming months. We needed a miracle to save the sea bass season a few years ago and we got one. This mess wasn't created overnight, and it won't be fixed overnight. Here's hoping again.Feel free to call to discuss, 609-618-0366, leave a message if I don't pick up.__________________

[captainbailey]

 

[Bucktail]

 

[IrishAyes]

We need someone else to run these government agencies. Someone with a clue.   

[IKAT]

 

Hey Carl --looks like we'll be stuck to the cpu again this year watching this Crap AGAIN   

[Fishin Dude]

That does not sound good.

[italianfisherman]

it was being talked about since may.. i was one of them who bougth this up time after time, & now they talking & writing about.time will tell.

[Duffman]

Wow, this truely sux!

I have always had outstanding offshore trips the week of Christmas. 

This not only kills our chances of getting offshore for biscuits but absolutely will kill the headboats that make a living sailing through the winter for them.

[IrishAyes]

And the major problem with them shutting it down is the fact that there is no shortage of sea bass and they are not being over-fished. They are only being over-governed. 

[paul-e]

And the major problem with them shutting it down is the fact that there is no shortage of sea bass and they are not being over-fished. They are only being over-governed. 

Like us.

[Kenny]

And the major problem with them shutting it down is the fact that there is no shortage of sea bass and they are not being over-fished. They are only being over-governed. 

Well said Joe

[Pops Soul]

GRUMBLE GRUMBLE 

[Hotrod]

 

[italianfisherman]

check out  fishingunited.com  see what they are say & showing...