Re: 2014 Fluke and Sea Bass Regulations Set
The NJMFC did the best they could with sea bass given the low target quota that was mandated by the ASMFC and the MAFMC. Everyone at the meeting and I mean that literally, supported the sea bass option that was approved. The alternative would have been to have a 15 fish bag limit in July and then it would have been closed from the first week in August until October 18th.
This fishery is being mismanaged by the feds and thier quotas are ridiculously low. Further this is compounded by the fact that we are in a regional plan. Last year NJ caught only 61% of its target, NY caught 125% and Ct. caught 150%. Guess what? We all had to cut back by 7% from what we had last year. How is that fair? Now the same thing will probably happen with fluke as well next year.
Paul Haertel
President, JCAA
|