Saltwater Fishing News

Immediacy ? The Importance of Our Message Boards

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Published: Friday, 11 May 2007 04:37

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Immediacy – The Importance of Our Message Boards

Immediacy! The Internet has given fisherman an opportunity to share data, info and stories in real-time that the print or video media could not and will never deliver. We all probably like to sit down and read the Sports section or a fishing magazine to try to get an edge. The problem is that data cannot be verified and is "old." Time is of the essence when you are trying to hit a moving target. Click read more for full article

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ASMFC Weakfish Board Solicits Public Comment on Draft Addendum III to the Weakfish Plan

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Published: Wednesday, 14 February 2007 14:17

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Addendum Proposes Revision to BRD Requirements

The Commission's Weakfish Management Board has approved sending forward for public comment Draft Addendum III to Amendment 4 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Weakfish. The Draft Addendum seeks to resolve an inconsistency in bycatch reduction device (BRD) requirements between the Commission's Amendment 4 and the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council's Shrimp Amendment 6

Throughout its history, the weakfish management program has included management measures to reduce the bycatch mortality of weakfish in Southeast shrimp trawl fisheries. These requirements have been implemented to aid in the protection of weakfish stocks and complement bycatch reduction requirements as specified in the South Atlantic Fishery (Click the Title to read more)

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ASMFC Weakfish Board Approves Addendum II

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Published: Friday, 02 February 2007 08:15

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The Commission's Weakfish Management Board approved Addendum II to Amendment 4 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Weakfish. Under the Addendum, the states of Massachusetts through North Carolina will be required to implement a six fish creel limit at their current size limit for the recreational fishery.  South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, because of their insignificant weakfish landings, will maintain their current creel and size limits. The Addendum establishes a coastwide commercial landings limit of approximately 3.7 million pounds (based on the average landings for 2000-2004). The Addendum also reduces the allowable bycatch limit from 300 pounds to 150 pounds per day or trip.

The Board's action was taken in response to a significant decline in stock abundance and increasing total mortality since 1999. As a result of the stock's overfished status, the Board is required under Amendment 4 to adjust the management program to help rebuild spawning stock biomass. This issue is compounded by the fact that natural mortality, rather than
fishing mortality, has been indicated as the lead cause for stock decline.  

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