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By daybreak
Published: October 23, 2008
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The Commission's Spiny Dogfish and Coastal Shark Management Board approved a 12 million pound quota with a maximum possession limit of 3,000 pounds for the 2009/2010 fishing year (May 1 to April 30). Under the newly approved Addendum II, the quota will be allocated with 58 percent to states from Maine through Connecticut, 26 percent to New York through Virginia, and 16 percent to North Carolina.
The 2008 New England Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) assessment update indicates that the spiny dogfish biomass is no longer overfished, with the 2008 estimate of spawning stock biomass (194,600 mt) exceeding the target biomass of 168,000 mt. Further, the most recent estimate of fishing mortality for spiny dogfish stock indicates that overfishing is not occurring. Total removals in 2007 were approximately 12,136 mt corresponding to an F estimate of 0.1104, well below the overfishing threshold of F = 0.39 and essentially equivalent to Frebuild = 0.11. Among the sources of removals, U.S. commercial landings comprised 3,524 mt, Canadian commercial landings were 2,328 mt, U.S. commercial discards were 6,247 mt, of which U.S. recreational dead discards were 861 mt.
While the stock is considered rebuilt, the assessment update contains a number of caveats. Theses caveats include: a size frequency of the female population that is concentrated between 75 and 95 cm with very few fish above 100 cm or below 70 cm; low numbers of juvenile male and female dogfish that imply that the population will fluctuate over time decreasing around 2017; a continued skewed sex ratio; and the use of assumptions about pup survivorship and selectivity of gear. After reviewing the assessment update, the Technical Committee recommended that the Board take a precautionary approach and set a quota based on Frebuild = 0.11 = 12 million pounds. After considering the assessment update and Technical Committee advice, the Board agreed with the recommendation for the 2009/2010 quota.
The Technical Committee recommended status quo possession limits at a maximum of 3,000 pounds, noting that under the 3,000 pound possession limit, target fishing mortality rates have not been exceeded and fishermen have been able to harvest the entire quota. The Technical Committee urged that possession limits should be set at a level that minimizes discards. Qualitative evidence has demonstrated that discards are associated with both high and low possession limits.
The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council Monitoring Committee will review the best available science on October 31, 2008 and make recommendations to the Council. The Council is likely to take action on recommendations at its meeting in December. The Council’s recommendation will be forwarded to the National Marine Fisheries Service for consideration and approval.
The Board also reconsidered its previous action regarding the 1,000 pound commercial trip limit for smooth dogfish. At the ASMFC Summer Meeting in August 2008, the Board voted to implement a 1,000 pound trip limit to keep landings from increasing without having a negative impact on fishermen. After review, the Board found that 1,000 pound trip limits would have a large impact on fishermen because it would eliminate the directed smooth dogfish fishery. To address the problem, the Board removed possession limits for smooth dogfish while monitoring landings for significant increases. In the case that landings increase by 25 percent relative to the previous three years, the Board will review and consider adjusting smooth dogfish specifications accordingly.
For more information, please contact Christopher Vonderweidt, Fishery Management Plan Coordinator, at (202)289-6400 or <cvonderweidt@asmfc.org>.
source: Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission press release
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Published: October 23, 2008
Print
EmailThe Commission's Spiny Dogfish and Coastal Shark Management Board approved a 12 million pound quota with a maximum possession limit of 3,000 pounds for the 2009/2010 fishing year (May 1 to April 30). Under the newly approved Addendum II, the quota will be allocated with 58 percent to states from Maine through Connecticut, 26 percent to New York through Virginia, and 16 percent to North Carolina.
The 2008 New England Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) assessment update indicates that the spiny dogfish biomass is no longer overfished, with the 2008 estimate of spawning stock biomass (194,600 mt) exceeding the target biomass of 168,000 mt. Further, the most recent estimate of fishing mortality for spiny dogfish stock indicates that overfishing is not occurring. Total removals in 2007 were approximately 12,136 mt corresponding to an F estimate of 0.1104, well below the overfishing threshold of F = 0.39 and essentially equivalent to Frebuild = 0.11. Among the sources of removals, U.S. commercial landings comprised 3,524 mt, Canadian commercial landings were 2,328 mt, U.S. commercial discards were 6,247 mt, of which U.S. recreational dead discards were 861 mt.
While the stock is considered rebuilt, the assessment update contains a number of caveats. Theses caveats include: a size frequency of the female population that is concentrated between 75 and 95 cm with very few fish above 100 cm or below 70 cm; low numbers of juvenile male and female dogfish that imply that the population will fluctuate over time decreasing around 2017; a continued skewed sex ratio; and the use of assumptions about pup survivorship and selectivity of gear. After reviewing the assessment update, the Technical Committee recommended that the Board take a precautionary approach and set a quota based on Frebuild = 0.11 = 12 million pounds. After considering the assessment update and Technical Committee advice, the Board agreed with the recommendation for the 2009/2010 quota.
The Technical Committee recommended status quo possession limits at a maximum of 3,000 pounds, noting that under the 3,000 pound possession limit, target fishing mortality rates have not been exceeded and fishermen have been able to harvest the entire quota. The Technical Committee urged that possession limits should be set at a level that minimizes discards. Qualitative evidence has demonstrated that discards are associated with both high and low possession limits.
The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council Monitoring Committee will review the best available science on October 31, 2008 and make recommendations to the Council. The Council is likely to take action on recommendations at its meeting in December. The Council’s recommendation will be forwarded to the National Marine Fisheries Service for consideration and approval.
The Board also reconsidered its previous action regarding the 1,000 pound commercial trip limit for smooth dogfish. At the ASMFC Summer Meeting in August 2008, the Board voted to implement a 1,000 pound trip limit to keep landings from increasing without having a negative impact on fishermen. After review, the Board found that 1,000 pound trip limits would have a large impact on fishermen because it would eliminate the directed smooth dogfish fishery. To address the problem, the Board removed possession limits for smooth dogfish while monitoring landings for significant increases. In the case that landings increase by 25 percent relative to the previous three years, the Board will review and consider adjusting smooth dogfish specifications accordingly.
For more information, please contact Christopher Vonderweidt, Fishery Management Plan Coordinator, at (202)289-6400 or <cvonderweidt@asmfc.org>.
source: Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission press release
Submit Article