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NOAA Fisheries proposed limits on fishing for three key species in order to end overfishing and promote rebuilding of the stocks. The proposal is based on scientific analysis and recommendations of the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission.
The proposed 2008 total allowable landing limits are:
- Summer Flounder – 15.77 million pounds, 8 percent less than the 2007 limit of 17.11 million pounds;
- Scup – 7.34 million pounds, 39 percent less than the 2007 limit of 12 million pounds; and
- Black Sea Bass – 4.22 million pounds, 16 percent less than the 2007 limit of 5 million pounds.
While all three species support commercial and recreational fisheries, summer flounder is the most prevalent of the three throughout the New England and Mid-Atlantic regions. The summer flounder stock has increased since 2000, when the rebuilding effort started. However, it is still subject to overfishing and still remains short of being rebuilt. Federal law requires that overfishing end and the stock stay on track with its new rebuilding schedule. The proposed rule, which includes recreational and commercial fishery and state allocations, may be viewed online at http://www.nero.noaa.gov/nero/regs/com.htm.
Public comments on the proposed rule will be accepted through December 3, 2007. NOAA will implement the 2008 annual landing limits in December.
For more information, please contact Susan Buchanan, susan.buchanan@noaa.gov.
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