On February 2, 2017, the Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass Management Board, part of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC), approved changes to this coming year's summer flounder quota for New Jersey. It mandated a one-inch size increase to New Jersey's current recreational summer flounder minimum size limit (raising it from 18-inches to 19-inches) and decreased the possession limit from 5 fish to 3 fish. New Jersey is appealing this change.
In reaching its decision the Board did not determine or consider the potential economic impact of the new quota on the summer flounder industry in New Jersey. This survey is designed to help estimate the extent of the economic impact of these recently approved summer flounder management regulations on recreational fishing. Your responses about recent trends in harvest size, abundance, and throwback mortality will help inform future decisions that promote conservation while minimizing adverse economic impacts.
We strongly urge you to complete the survey as thoroughly and accurately as possible within the next 5 days. The survey should only take about 15 minutes to complete. Your participation in this survey is voluntary and your identity throughout remains anonymous. Nowhere is your name or email requested or captured. Your cooperation, however, is much-needed to ensure the completeness and accuracy of the results. Please know that your answers will be kept confidential.
The link to the survey is:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/FNP5L3CThank you,
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
