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Published: June 9, 2011
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Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina have scheduled their hearings to gather public comment on the Draft Omnibus Amendment for Spot, Spotted Seatrout and Spanish Mackerel.
The dates, times, and locations of the scheduled meetings follow. (Note: South Carolina conducted its hearing on June 3 as part of its Marine Advisory Committee meeting.)
Maryland Dept. of Natural Resources, Fisheries Service
Friday, June 24, 2011; 6 PM
Tawes Office Building, C-1 Conference Room
580 Taylor Avenue
Annapolis, Maryland
Contact: Sarah Widman at 410.260.8266
Virginia Marine Resources Commission
Wednesday, June 22, 2011; 6 PM,
2600 Washington Avenue, 4th Floor
Newport News, Virginia
Contact: Jack Travelstead at 757.247.2247
North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries
Tuesday, June 21, 2011; 6 PM
Central District Office
5285 U.S. Highway 70 West
Morehead City, North Carolina
Contact: Michelle Duval at 252.726.7021
In March, the Commission's South Atlantic State-Federal Fisheries Management Board voted to take the next step in updating the fishery management plans (FMPs) for three important South Atlantic species -- spot, spotted seatrout, and Spanish mackerel. With a combined coastwide commercial catch of 12.6 million pounds and a recreational harvest of 14.3 million fish, the three species represent a large draw for all fishermen.
The three FMPs had been adopted prior to passage of the Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act and adoption of the Interstate Fisheries Management Program Charter in 1995. The Board has been working since August 2009 to develop this amendment and update the plans in order to provide for more efficient and effective management. Such updates include commercial and recreational management measures or recommendations, adaptive management, de minimis thresholds and exemptions, and monitoring recommendations or requirements. After receiving initial public comments and Board direction, the Draft Amendment is now available for public comment and state hearings.
Spanish mackerel is jointly managed by both the Commission and the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council. Due to data limitations, the most recent stock assessment was not successful in establishing specific values for reference points. The original interstate FMP included a process to review and maintain consistency with federal management, which is essential to maintaining good conservation measures. Over the years, however, both federal and state regulations have changed, while the interstate FMP has remained unchanged.
To address this consistency issue, the Draft Omnibus Amendment currently includes both adaptive management measures as well as a process for Board review and action in response to changes in the federal regulations, which will allow for greater uniformity across the jurisdictions. Currently, the federal FMP has a proposed Amendment 18, which is scheduled for a final vote by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council at its June meeting. The proposed Amendment 18 changes are included in the current Draft Omnibus Amendment for public comment.
The original Spot and the Spotted Seatrout FMPs included no requirements for either management or monitoring. The current Draft Omnibus Amendment includes a management trigger for spot, which will help the Board in monitoring the status of the stock until a full coastwide stock assessment can be completed. High levels of spot bycatch present a challenge for managers, in terms of both yearly management and overall assessment of the stock health.
For spotted seatrout, the Draft Omnibus Amendment includes measures to protect the spawning stock as well as a coastwide minimum size. These measures will be essential as increased coastal development presents management challenges to this very localized species. Coupled with adaptive management measures, the Draft Omnibus Amendment will provide options for both species to efficiently implement management measures should the Board determine that such measures are needed in the future.
Fishermen and other interested groups are encouraged to provide input on the Draft Omnibus Amendment either by attending public hearings or providing written comments. The Draft Amendment can be obtained via the Commission’s website at www.asmfc.org under Breaking News or by contacting the Commission at 703.842.0740. Public comment will be accepted until 5:00 PM (EST) on July 20, 2011 and should be forwarded to Danielle Brzezinski, FMP Coordinator, 1050 N. Highland St, Suite A-N, Arlington, VA 22201; 703.842.0741 (FAX) or at dbrzezinski@asmfc.org (Subject line: Draft Omnibus Amendment).
source: ASFMC
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Published: June 9, 2011
Print
EmailMaryland, Virginia, and North Carolina have scheduled their hearings to gather public comment on the Draft Omnibus Amendment for Spot, Spotted Seatrout and Spanish Mackerel.
The dates, times, and locations of the scheduled meetings follow. (Note: South Carolina conducted its hearing on June 3 as part of its Marine Advisory Committee meeting.)
Maryland Dept. of Natural Resources, Fisheries Service
Friday, June 24, 2011; 6 PM
Tawes Office Building, C-1 Conference Room
580 Taylor Avenue
Annapolis, Maryland
Contact: Sarah Widman at 410.260.8266
Virginia Marine Resources Commission
Wednesday, June 22, 2011; 6 PM,
2600 Washington Avenue, 4th Floor
Newport News, Virginia
Contact: Jack Travelstead at 757.247.2247
North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries
Tuesday, June 21, 2011; 6 PM
Central District Office
5285 U.S. Highway 70 West
Morehead City, North Carolina
Contact: Michelle Duval at 252.726.7021
In March, the Commission's South Atlantic State-Federal Fisheries Management Board voted to take the next step in updating the fishery management plans (FMPs) for three important South Atlantic species -- spot, spotted seatrout, and Spanish mackerel. With a combined coastwide commercial catch of 12.6 million pounds and a recreational harvest of 14.3 million fish, the three species represent a large draw for all fishermen.
The three FMPs had been adopted prior to passage of the Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act and adoption of the Interstate Fisheries Management Program Charter in 1995. The Board has been working since August 2009 to develop this amendment and update the plans in order to provide for more efficient and effective management. Such updates include commercial and recreational management measures or recommendations, adaptive management, de minimis thresholds and exemptions, and monitoring recommendations or requirements. After receiving initial public comments and Board direction, the Draft Amendment is now available for public comment and state hearings.
Spanish mackerel is jointly managed by both the Commission and the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council. Due to data limitations, the most recent stock assessment was not successful in establishing specific values for reference points. The original interstate FMP included a process to review and maintain consistency with federal management, which is essential to maintaining good conservation measures. Over the years, however, both federal and state regulations have changed, while the interstate FMP has remained unchanged.
To address this consistency issue, the Draft Omnibus Amendment currently includes both adaptive management measures as well as a process for Board review and action in response to changes in the federal regulations, which will allow for greater uniformity across the jurisdictions. Currently, the federal FMP has a proposed Amendment 18, which is scheduled for a final vote by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council at its June meeting. The proposed Amendment 18 changes are included in the current Draft Omnibus Amendment for public comment.
The original Spot and the Spotted Seatrout FMPs included no requirements for either management or monitoring. The current Draft Omnibus Amendment includes a management trigger for spot, which will help the Board in monitoring the status of the stock until a full coastwide stock assessment can be completed. High levels of spot bycatch present a challenge for managers, in terms of both yearly management and overall assessment of the stock health.
For spotted seatrout, the Draft Omnibus Amendment includes measures to protect the spawning stock as well as a coastwide minimum size. These measures will be essential as increased coastal development presents management challenges to this very localized species. Coupled with adaptive management measures, the Draft Omnibus Amendment will provide options for both species to efficiently implement management measures should the Board determine that such measures are needed in the future.
Fishermen and other interested groups are encouraged to provide input on the Draft Omnibus Amendment either by attending public hearings or providing written comments. The Draft Amendment can be obtained via the Commission’s website at www.asmfc.org under Breaking News or by contacting the Commission at 703.842.0740. Public comment will be accepted until 5:00 PM (EST) on July 20, 2011 and should be forwarded to Danielle Brzezinski, FMP Coordinator, 1050 N. Highland St, Suite A-N, Arlington, VA 22201; 703.842.0741 (FAX) or at dbrzezinski@asmfc.org (Subject line: Draft Omnibus Amendment).
source: ASFMC
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