Action Needed Fluke Sea Bass and Scup

[Gerry Zagorski]

Action Needed By Monday December 13th!

December 13-16 the Mid Atlantic Fishery Management Council will be meeting to discuss a variety of fisheries. One of the more important topics will be the allocation of the Fluke, Sea Bass and Scup Quota for Commercial and Recreational Anglers.
- The current allocation for Fluke is 60% to Commercial and 40% to Recreational.
- For Scup it's 78% Commercial and 22% Recreational
- For Sea Bass it's 49% Commercial and 51% Recreational

The RFA is working in cooperation with and wrote a position statement agreeing with American Sportfishing Association, asking the Council to consider shifting more of the allocation to Recreational fishermen.

If you're in agreement let your Council Representative know by 12/13
- Go to https://keepamericafishing.org/action-center/
- Click on your state
- Click on Support Bringing Allocations into the 21st Century
- Fill in your personal information
- Emails of your support will be sent to your Council Representative

We need to flood the council with these letters so please share this link https://www.njfishing.com/forums/sho...616#post565616 with your fishing friends and any fishing groups you belong to.

Thanks!

[Jarhead]

Done

[dales529]

Done

[BugEye Chris]

Done

[penn50w]

DONE

[Quin T Rex]

Done

[FASTEDDIE29]

Thank you for all you do Cap’n! DONE!!!

[TomKaye]

Done and forwarded link to some fishing friends who may not frequent this site.
Thanks.

Gerry just tried sending in the letter from my mobile device but never received the email code to complete the filing. Will try later today once I'm home.

I have a question so I understand the process. A few years ago New York sued to have their share of the commercial quota increased. The lawsuit was filed against the Secretary of Commerce, NOAA and NMFS, collectively Marine Fisheries. An allocation within the commercial sector as opposed to an allocation here between sectors. But an allocation nonetheless. ASMFC and MAFMC weren't at all named in the lawsuit.

At the same time when I had numerous email exchanges with ASMFC and MAFMC Members a few years ago, I was told numerous times they don't set the policies, their handed down from National Marine Fisheries and their hands are essentially tied. In essence state versus the Federal Government since I believe both ASMFC and MAFMC are state chartered institutions. States could and do recommend Conservation Equivalency measures but it sounded like everything else was a Federal mandate.

These letters addressing changes to the allocation are being directed at the state level, my question is do the states have the authority to make that change or is this an MSA mandate with the ultimate authority in the hands of Washington?

Gerry tried again from home....done.