The CT DEEP Marine Fisheries Division is holding a public meeting to get input on management options to comply with the joint Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council/Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission fishery management plan for black sea bass. We are also seeking input on options for managing the bonus striped bass tag program.
The hearing will be held at:
7:00 PM, Wednesday, February 17, 2016
CT DEEP Marine Headquarters
Boating Education Center (rear building)
333 Ferry Road, Old Lyme. CT
Despite a 20% increase in quota from 2015, the magnitude of recreational harvest last year dictates that states in the northeast (MA-NJ) adopt measures that will reduce harvest by 23% in order to stay within the 2016 target recreational harvest. Possible approaches include adjustments to the minimum length, daily creel limit and length of open season.
Bonus striped bass tag program. This very popular program makes a small number of striped bass (3,018) available for harvest at a size between 22 and 28 inches provided they are tagged immediately upon harvest. Approximately half of the available tags are distributed by DEEP angler survey agents at Enhanced Shore Fishing Sites, including at Riverfront Recapture in Hartford. The other half is distributed at agency offices where licenses are sold on a first-come first-served basis. In 2015 licensed anglers were limited to one tag annually. Following several requests from the public we are seeking public comment on an option to increase the annual tag limit from one tag to two.
Survey cards covering both topics will be available during the Northeast Hunting and Fishing Show in Hartford this weekend at the DEEP booth. Please stop by to complete the survey.
The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer that is committed to requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Any person with a disability who may need information in an alternative format may contact the agency’s ADA Coordinator at 860-424-3194, or at [email protected]. Any person with limited proficiency in English, who may need information in another language, may contact the agency’s Title VI Coordinator at 860-424-3035, or at [email protected]. Any person with a hearing impairment may call the State of Connecticut relay number – 711. Discrimination complaints may be filed with DEEP’s Title VI Coordinator. Requests for accommodations must be made at least two weeks prior to any agency hearing, program or event.
