Atlantic states from Massachusetts through Virginia have scheduled public hearings to gather public comment on Draft Addendum XXX to the Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan, beginning in the first week of the New Year.
Draft Addendum XXX was initiated to consider alternative regional management approaches for the recreational fishery, including options for regional allocation of harvest limits based primarily on state history in the fishery. The draft addendum also includes an option for coastwide management should a regional approach not be approved for management.
Since 2012, the recreational fishery has been managed under an ad-hoc regional management approach, whereby the states of Massachusetts through New Jersey have individually crafted measures aimed at reducing harvest by the same percent, while the states of Delaware through North Carolina have set their regulations consistent with the federal waters measures.
The Massachusetts Public Hearing takes place on January 9 at 6 PM and will be held at the Bourne Community Center, Room 2 (239 Main Street, Bourne. MA.) 6:15 PM at Massachusetts Maritime Academy Admiral’s Hall, 101 Academy Drive, Buzzards Bat, MA.The contact for this meeting is Nichola Meserve via email at [email protected] or phone at 617-626-1531.
** Please note that the meeting location was changed from the original hearing location, the Bourne Community Center, as it is under an emergency closure due to a burst pipe.
The Connecticut Public Hearing takes place on January 10 at 7 PM and will be held at the Marine Headquarters, Boating Education Center (Rear Building, 333 Ferry Road, Old Lyme, CT.) The contact for this meeting is Mark Alexander via email at [email protected] or via phone at 860-447-4322.
The Rhode Island Public Hearing takes place on January 17 at 6 PM and will be held at the University of Rhode Island Bay Campus (Corless Auditorium, South Ferry Road, Narragansett, RI.) The contact for this meeting is Robert Ballou via email at [email protected] or phone at 401-222-4700 ext 4420.
LIMITED WAVE 1 (FEBRUARY) FISHERY
States have an opportunity to provide a limited recreational fishery during the 28 days of February, but only if they’re willing to give up some allowable fishing days later in the spring. This comes as a result of the recent joint sessions of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) and Mid Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAMFC) in December.
