The state of New Jersey’s opposition to the proposed 2017 summer flounder regulations is continuing at a fairly rapid pace.
Last Thursday, January 19, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Bob Martin sent the state of New Jersey’s view of Draft Addendum XXVIII to the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC), calling the proposed recreational measures “a defecto moratorium on summer flounder for the recreational fishing industry in New Jersey.”
“The Addendum threatens to jeopardize businesses such as bait and tackle shops and party and charter boats that cater to recreational anglers,” Martin wrote in his letter, adding “the recreational fishing industry which provides more than $1.5 billion economic benefits and directly supports 20,000 jobs in New Jersey, would be devastated.”
This Friday at 10 a.m., DEP Commissioner Bob Martin is tentatively scheduled to hold a press conference at Fishermen’s Supply at 69 Channel Drive in Point Pleasant Beach, to announce the state’s opposition to the proposed federal summer flounder restrictions.
Capt. Pete Grimbilas of Reef Rescue and the New Jersey Outdoor Alliance said as many fishermen as possible should be ready to attend Friday’s public press conference. “From what I understand the Commissioner wants to state New Jersey’s official position on the proposed fluke regulations, and I’m sure he’d like to see as many of New Jersey’s fishermen on-hand as possible.”
“We are pleased to see the Christie Administration rejecting ASMFC’s mandate and requesting status quo measures until a new benchmark assessment is completed, kudos to Commissioner Bob Martin,” Capt. Grimbilas added.
The ASMFC will convene for their Winter Meeting from January 30 through February 2 at the Westin Alexandria at 400 Courthouse Square in Alexandria, VA; the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Management Board could take final action on approving Summer Flounder Draft Addendum XXVIII as early as 8 a.m. on February 2.
On Friday, January 20, just hours after the inauguration, the Trump Administration issued an immediate freeze of pending regulations until they can be reviewed by the president’s newly appointed designees. While the previously approved 11.26-million pound quota for both the recreational and commercial sector in 2017 would probably not be impacted by the presidential memo, passage of Addendum XXVIII through the ASMFC process may get complicated and should generate discussion in Alexandria, VA next week.
As for when any summer flounder options will be finalized, ASFMC and the MidAtlantic Fishery Management Council will later convene a the Hilton Garden Inn at 5353 N. Virginia Dare Trail in Kitty Hawk, NC from February 14-16; following the February coastwide commission and regional council meetings, the New Jersey Marine Fisheries Council is set to meet on March 2 at the Stafford Township Municipal Building at 260 East Bay Avenue in Manahawkin, NJ which is typically where New Jersey’s seasonal fluke limits get set.
For more on the status of this Friday’s press conference at Fishermen’s Supply with DEP Commissioner Martin and the Christie team, look for more details in the Thursday, January 26 weekend video forecast from The Fisherman Magazine.
