NJDEP Fluke Survey - Action Needed ASAP!!

[Gerry Zagorski]

On February 2, 2017, the Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass Management Board, part of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC), approved changes to this coming year's summer flounder quota for New Jersey. It mandated a one-inch size increase to New Jersey's current recreational summer flounder minimum size limit (raising it from 18-inches to 19-inches) and decreased the possession limit from 5 fish to 3 fish. New Jersey is appealing this change.

In reaching its decision the Board did not determine or consider the potential economic impact of the new quota on the summer flounder industry in New Jersey. This survey is designed to help estimate the extent of the economic impact of these recently approved summer flounder management regulations on recreational fishing. Your responses about recent trends in harvest size, abundance, and throwback mortality will help inform future decisions that promote conservation while minimizing adverse economic impacts.

We strongly urge you to complete the survey as thoroughly and accurately as possible within the next 5 days. The survey should only take about 15 minutes to complete. Your participation in this survey is voluntary and your identity throughout remains anonymous. Nowhere is your name or email requested or captured. Your cooperation, however, is much-needed to ensure the completeness and accuracy of the results. Please know that your answers will be kept confidential.

The link to the survey is:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/FNP5L3C

[Bill T]

Survey completed. Let's hope it does some good.

[tjd24]

Done

[Rich]

Done!

[Jay F]

Done!

[Bill G]

Done

[njfish4life]

Done.. got it also through email.

[Angler Paul]

IMPORTANT FLUKE SURVEY
Our State is seeking evidence to show that we will suffer a severe economic loss if the 3 fluke at 19” is put into effect. If you want us to win the appeal individuals will have to indicate on the survey that they will fish for fluke less, take less overall fishing trips, spend less money, etc. Captains can indicate they will have less customers, take less overall trips, make less money to support their families, may go out of business, etc. It would also be good to show that we would follow regulations or suggestions to reduce mortality of short fluke by using larger hooks etc. If we are willing to do that, it will also help our case. It won’t hurt to let them know that many people already are not complying with the regulations.
Please take the survey -
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/FNP5L3C
Paul Haertel – JCAA Board Member/Past President

[Topeka Boy]

done

[SaltLife1980]

Done