07-16-2013, 11:10 AM
The New Jersey Marine Fisheries Council (Council) voted on Thursday night to extend the New Jersey summer flounder season by eight additional days in 2013. Originally scheduled to end on Monday, September 16th, the season will now run through Tuesday, September 24th.
The Recreational Fishing Alliance's New Jersey Chapter (RFA-NJ) was represented by Capt. Adam Nowalsky who was there to speak on behalf of an extension.
At issue for the Council was whether to extend the season by six days, which was the preferred option put forth by the advisors to the Council's Summer Flounder Committee, or 11 days as allowed by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC).
As noted by Council members and advisors at the meeting, fish landed in 2013 would result in less fish available to be landed in 2014; with the Mid-Atlantic region currently facing at least a 10% reduction in quota for 2014, some concern was expressed that taking the full 11 days in 2013 could jeopardize one of the holiday weekends looking ahead towards the 2014 season.
A compromise proposal of eight days was put forth and ultimately won favor with council members.
"The Council did a good job in balancing forward-looking thinking with the needs of the public," said Capt. Nowalsky. "The final council vote of 5-4 reflects that balance."
Those that spoke in favor of taking the full 11 days cited reduced effort as a result of last fall's Superstorm Sandy. However, because the recreational data collection system, now known as MRIP, has been known to report landings even during hurricanes in previous years, the reliability of the government data raises questions as to whether or not the reduced participation of 2013 will be adequately captured by the new system.
Also of concern is the outcome of the 2013 summer flounder stock assessment. The New Jersey based Save the Summer Flounder Fishery Fund (SSFFF) and Partnership for Mid-Atlantic Fisheries Science (PMAFS) have had representatives presenting data and models at those meetings in hopes of improving the overall data assessment, though it is unknown how much impact that data will have yet on the final outcome of those assessments. Failure by NMFS to integrate this important data into the final assessment could result in lower quotas for anglers in 2014 and beyond.
"The takeaway for me is that five days during a time that has often been washed out entirely by tropical systems is evoking such a passionate response from the public," noted Capt. Nowalsky in closing comments to the Council. "What is the larger message about the tenuous state of the industry and our coastal community that businesses my live or die on these five days?"
The proposed regulation now goes to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner for final approval.
To learn more, tune to ESPN Radio 97.3FM in South Jersey on Saturday morning (7/13) at 8 a.m. as host Tom P. speaks with Capt. Adam Nowalsky on Rack & Fin radio. If you're out of the listening area, log on beginning at 8 a.m. at http://973espn.com.
About Recreational Fishing Alliance
The Recreational Fishing Alliance is a national, grassroots political action organization representing recreational fishermen and the recreational fishing industry on marine fisheries issues. The RFA Mission is to safeguard the rights of saltwater anglers, protect marine, boat and tackle industry jobs, and ensure the long-term sustainability of our Nation's saltwater fisheries. For more information, call 888-JOIN-RFA or visit www.joinrfa.org.
The Recreational Fishing Alliance's New Jersey Chapter (RFA-NJ) was represented by Capt. Adam Nowalsky who was there to speak on behalf of an extension.
At issue for the Council was whether to extend the season by six days, which was the preferred option put forth by the advisors to the Council's Summer Flounder Committee, or 11 days as allowed by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC).
As noted by Council members and advisors at the meeting, fish landed in 2013 would result in less fish available to be landed in 2014; with the Mid-Atlantic region currently facing at least a 10% reduction in quota for 2014, some concern was expressed that taking the full 11 days in 2013 could jeopardize one of the holiday weekends looking ahead towards the 2014 season.
A compromise proposal of eight days was put forth and ultimately won favor with council members.
"The Council did a good job in balancing forward-looking thinking with the needs of the public," said Capt. Nowalsky. "The final council vote of 5-4 reflects that balance."
Those that spoke in favor of taking the full 11 days cited reduced effort as a result of last fall's Superstorm Sandy. However, because the recreational data collection system, now known as MRIP, has been known to report landings even during hurricanes in previous years, the reliability of the government data raises questions as to whether or not the reduced participation of 2013 will be adequately captured by the new system.
Also of concern is the outcome of the 2013 summer flounder stock assessment. The New Jersey based Save the Summer Flounder Fishery Fund (SSFFF) and Partnership for Mid-Atlantic Fisheries Science (PMAFS) have had representatives presenting data and models at those meetings in hopes of improving the overall data assessment, though it is unknown how much impact that data will have yet on the final outcome of those assessments. Failure by NMFS to integrate this important data into the final assessment could result in lower quotas for anglers in 2014 and beyond.
"The takeaway for me is that five days during a time that has often been washed out entirely by tropical systems is evoking such a passionate response from the public," noted Capt. Nowalsky in closing comments to the Council. "What is the larger message about the tenuous state of the industry and our coastal community that businesses my live or die on these five days?"
The proposed regulation now goes to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner for final approval.
To learn more, tune to ESPN Radio 97.3FM in South Jersey on Saturday morning (7/13) at 8 a.m. as host Tom P. speaks with Capt. Adam Nowalsky on Rack & Fin radio. If you're out of the listening area, log on beginning at 8 a.m. at http://973espn.com.
About Recreational Fishing Alliance
The Recreational Fishing Alliance is a national, grassroots political action organization representing recreational fishermen and the recreational fishing industry on marine fisheries issues. The RFA Mission is to safeguard the rights of saltwater anglers, protect marine, boat and tackle industry jobs, and ensure the long-term sustainability of our Nation's saltwater fisheries. For more information, call 888-JOIN-RFA or visit www.joinrfa.org.