ASMFC Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Board Schedules Confer

[The dropoff]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, MARCH 13, 2013
PRESS CONTACT, TINA BERGER, 703.842.0740
 
ASMFC Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Board Schedules Conference Call for March 15 (2 PM)
to Consider Approval of Northern Region Regulations for the 2013 Black Sea Bass Recreational Fishery
Arlington, VA – The Commission’s Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass Management Board will meet via conference call on Friday, March 15, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. to consider approval of the 2013 black sea bass recreational measures for the northern region states (Massachusetts to New Jersey). Addendum XXIII, approved in February 2013, allows for the use of regional measures to manage the 2013 black sea bass recreational fishery given the wide geographic range of this species and its varying size composition and availability by state/region.
The states of Delaware to North Carolina (North of Hatteras), which predominantly fish in federal waters, have indicated their intention to adopt the identical measures proposed for federal waters (12.5” minimum size limit and a season of May 19 - October 14 and November 1 - December 31), which remain unchanged from 2012 with the exception of a bag limit reduction from 25 to 20 fish. The northern states, in consultation with the Technical Committee, have developed proposals for regional regulations to achieve a 32% reduction in harvest for the 2013 recreational fishery. On the conference call, the Board will review and take final action on these regulations.
The public is welcome to listen in on the discussion by phone (888.394.8197; passcode 815277) and view the webinar using the following link https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/867053678. Meeting materials have been posted to the Commission website at http://www.asmfc.org/meetings/sfScupBSBboardConfCall_March2013.pdf. Time permitting, there will be a limited opportunity to provide comments at the end of the agenda. The Board Chair will provide additional information on the procedures for accepting public comment at the beginning of the conference call. We ask the public and other nonparticipating attendees to please mute their phones in order to minimize distractions to the Board’s deliberations. For more information, please contact Toni Kerns.
 
 
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Tina Berger
Public Affairs Specialist
Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission
1050 N. Highland Street, Suite 200 A-N
Arlington, VA 22201
703.842.0740
www.asmfc.org
 

[Ms Fish]

Being able to call in, listen and view the seminar is very cool! Some people cant make things like this that want to, especially if they are to far away. Good info here!   

[IrishAyes]

Thanks for keeping on top of these issues Fran. 

[Capt. Boom]

Any info from the Conference call for Sea Bass yesterday. Thanks

[The dropoff]

I think the call went well.  They Approved the math to come up with the reduction that we have to take.  NJ asked them to take a two year average instead of just using the 2012 data.  From the charts it looks like if we go up a 1/2 inch we will be able to get a longer season.  The charts were broken down into how many days we could fish in each wave period. 

I missed the part about getting some quota for fluke from other states if they were will to give it up.  If this happens there is a chance that we might be able to extend our fluke season. 

Now it will come back to NJ to come up dates, size, and bag