Relaxed Flounder RegulationsMay See by NJ Anglers
Anglers may be able to mull over a number of combinations of season dates, size limits and bag limits for summer flounder by next month, officials announced at the most recent meeting of the state Marine Fisheries Council.
The council held its bi-monthly meeting this week in Galloway Township, where members discussed a number of management concerns heading into the 2011 fishing season. For summer flounder anglers, however, the news looks bright. Federal officials have signed off on a 30 percent quota increase for this year, meaning the tight regulations that anglers complained about during the 2009 and 2010 seasons may be loosened.
Under the federal government’s rules for summer flounder management, each state must determine its own regulatory plans to meet the quotas set by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Council. New Jersey officials have until Thursday to submit their proposals to a technical committee, which will then send the proposals to the ASMFC for review. The federal agency will then send a number of acceptable proposals of season, size and bag limits back to the marine fisheries council, which will vote to determine the combination to become law for 2011.
“Due to the increase in coastwide quota, New Jersey may liberalize its regulations,” said Ed Goldman, a council member. Goldman said the council will use all three variables – an increased season length, shorter size limit and heftier bag limit to achieve the increased quota level.
The news comes as welcome relief for anglers, who have seen the minimum legal size to keep a flounder edge up to 18 inches by 2009 and continue through 2010. Most flounder do not grow to 18 inches, spurring criticisms from some scientists that discard mortality – the number of fish that die after being thrown back – has nearly reached parity with the number of flounder harvested for food. There are also concerns that only female fish, which grow larger than males, are targeted at an 18-inch limit.
“The [recreational] guys do want a longer season and a smaller size limit,” said Fran Verdi, a charter captain. “I think we can accommodate that.”
Verdi asked the council to submit the most liberal proposals possible to the ASMFC.
“If we don’t send the most liberal options [to the ASMFC], there’s no chance it’ll come back here with any of those types of options,” said Verdi, referencing the suggested regulatory combinations the ASMFC will send back to state officials to vote on.
The proposals authorized for consideration will be available for public review as early as next month. The council will hold a special meeting, most likely in Toms River, in April to vote on the final flounder regulations for 2011.
Council members also announced at the meeting that the quota for dogfish has been raised to 20 million pounds for the 2011 season. Considered a nuisance by recreational anglers, dogfish are sought by commercial fishermen who target the species for use in pet food and other products. Dogfish meat is also used in fish and chips recipes in Europe.
Recreational anglers for years have called on regulators to increase the commercial dogfish quota. Some anglers contend the species feeds on flounder, weakfish and other more popular game fish species.
“Just a couple years ago [the quota] was 4 million pounds,” said Peter Himchak Supervising Biologist for the state’s Marine Fisheries Administration.
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