by Larry Jock

FISHERMEN BEWARE. POLITICAL HANKY PANKY GOING ON

March 10, 2010 - Coastal Fisherman reader Brad Martin was kind enough to forward me a link to an ESPN story that all fishermen should read. Looks like the Obama administration could be siding with some environmental groups to shut down large areas to recreational and commercial fishing. Here's the link:

http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/saltwater/news/story?id=4975762


VIRGINIA VOTES TO LOWER FLOUNDER SIZE IN 2010

March 8, 2010 - At the end of February, the Virginia Marine Resources Commission voted to lower the size limit for flounder in 2010. The new regulations set the new size limit at 18.5 inches, down from 19 inches, but reduce the bag limit from five to four flounder per day for the rest of the year. A loosening of the size limit was possible because of an increased harvest quota established by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission.


COMMITTEE CHAIRWOMAN CALLS FOR NOAA LAW ENFORCEMENT DIRECTOR TO STEP ASIDE

March 8, 2010 - House Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans and Wildlife Chairwoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo (D-GU) today, during a hearing of the Subcommittee, called for National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Office of Law Enforcement Director Dale Jones to be temporarily relieved of his duties, amid allegations of unauthorized document destruction during an ongoing investigation by the U.S. Department of Commerce's Inspector General (IG).

According to the office of Commerce IG Todd J. Zinser, Jones initiated and authorized the destruction of documents and records at the NOAA law enforcement headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland, while his office was simultaneously under investigation by the IG for allegations of heavy handed, unfair, and poorly managed fisheries law enforcement operations. The document disposal effort was not approved by the IG's office or by his superiors at NOAA.

"As the top cop at NOAA and a long-time investigator himself, Dale Jones must be acutely aware that shredding documents during a federal investigation raises serious questions about his commitment to a full and fair look at all the facts," Bordallo said. "At a time when transparency and accountability in the way our government operates is of utmost importance, this type of behavior cannot be condoned, and Mr. Jones should step aside until the IG's investigation is completed."

Zinser confirmed to the Committee that his investigation of NOAA law enforcement programs was already underway, and his staff had met with Jones to discuss the nature of the review and the processes that would be followed, when Jones allegedly initiated an office-wide paper shredding effort.

The latest revelation regarding Jones comes on the heels of the initial findings of the IG's investigation, released in January 2010, where the IG found that the "systemic, nationwide issues adversely affecting NOAA's ability to effectively carry out its mission of regulating the fishing industry...have contributed significantly to a highly-charged regulatory climate and dysfunctional relationship between NOAA and the fishing industry."


NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE CLOSES SPINY DOGFISH FISHERY

March 8, 2010 - NMFS has determined that the 2009 Period 2 quota for spiny dogfish fishery has been harvested. Therefore, effective January 26, 2010, the fishery for spiny dogfish is closed and vessels issued Federal permits for spiny dogfish may not fish for, possess, transfer, or land any spiny dogfish until May 1, 2010, at which time the Period 1 quota for the 2010 fishing year becomes available.


UNITED STATES ANNOUNCES SUPPORT FOR PROPOSAL TO BAN BLUEFIN SALES

March 3, 2010 - The United States will continue its support for a proposal to ban all
international commercial trade of eastern and Mediterranean Atlantic bluefin tuna at this month’s meeting of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wildlife Fauna and Flora (CITES) in Doha, Qatar, Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Fish and Wildlife and Parks Tom Strickland announced today.

Strickland, who will head the U.S. delegation to the 15th Conference of Parties (CoP15) of the 175-nation treaty said, “... in light of the serious compliance problems that have plagued the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean fishery and the fact that the 2010 quota level adopted by ICCAT (in their November meeting) is not as low as we believe is needed, the United States continues to have serious concerns about the long-term viability of either the fish or the fishery.”

United States will support the proposal to list eastern and Mediterranean Atlantic bluefin tuna in Appendix I at the 15th Conference of Parties and will work actively with Monaco and other CITES and ICCAT Parties in order to achieve positive results for bluefin tuna at CoP15 and at the 2010 ICCAT annual meeting. If the bluefin tuna is listed under Appendix I, commercial fishermen in the United States could continue to sell western Atlantic bluefin tuna caught in the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) domestically.

The Western Atlantic spawning stock has declined by 82.4 percent from 49,482 metric tons in 1970 to 8,693 metric tons in 2007, and meets the biological criteria for listing in Appendix I.

The Conference of the Parties will be held March 13-25, 2010, in Doha, Qatar.


MEETING HELD TO DISCUSS 2010 FLOUNDER OPTIONS

March 2, 2010 - Representatives from the MD Department of Natural Resources met with anglers today in a meeting to determine which of the five options for this years flounder season is the most desirable to Coastal Bays anglers.

Carrie Kennedy from the DNR told the crowd that there will be only one set of flounder regulations in 2010. In previous years, anglers in the Chesapeake Bay and those fishing in the Coastal Bays followed different size and creel limits. Carrie also said that, based on a meeting held with Chesapeake Bay fisherman, they preferred Option #2, which would set the minimum flounder size at 18.5 inches, with 3 fish per person and a season that runs from April 24th to September 24th.

At the meeting, the overwhelming desire by Coastal Bay anglers was for Option #5, which increases the minimum size to 19-inches with 3 fish per person and a season from April 17th to November 22nd.

The DNR will use this input in assisting them with setting final size and creel limits in the early spring.


THOUSANDS ATTEND FISHERMEN'S MARCH ON WASHINGTON, DC
No MD or DE politicians show up in support

February 25, 2010 - Thousands of recreational and commercial fishermen showed up next to the Capital Building on Wednesday to protest excessive fishing regulations and closures and show support for an amendment to provide flexibility in the Magnuson-Stevens Act. Around a dozen politicians from Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina took time from their day to attend the rally and make remarks to the crowd. Maryland Congressmen Frank Kratovil, Maryland Senator's Barbara Mikulski and Ben Cardin, Delaware Congressman Mike Castle or Delaware Senators Tom Carper and Ed Kaufman DID NOT take the time to attend the protest and show their support.

According to Kratovil's office, the Congressman had a full schedule and didn't receive an invitation to the event until the day before. Mikulski's office also said they weren't invited. This is refuted by Jim Donofrio, Executive Director of the Recreational Fishing Alliance, organizer of the March, who said that the Congressman and Senator both received several invitations since the date the event was organized back in December 2009. Donofrio said he wasn't sure about whether the Delaware politicians were officially invited. Carper's office said they cannot locate any invitation. We are still waiting on responses from the offices of Cardin, Castle and Kaufman.

My take on this is that the Maryland and Delaware politicians should be ashamed of themselves, especially Kratovil and Mikulski, for not attending the event. The excuse of not being invited and/or not having time on their schedule was disrespectful to the recreational and commercial fishermen they represent. As far as the other politicians are concerned, they should have known about the March, and should have taken it upon themselves to attend the event, but I guess this makes it easy to determine whether they are on the side of fishermen or not. Remember, the only thing these folks know are votes and money. The fishing community doesn't have much money, but they certainly have a lot of votes.

If you would like to contact your representative, their office numbers are:
MD Congressman Kratovil 202-225-5311
MD Senator Mikulski 202-224-4654
MD Senator Cardin 202-224-4524
DE Senator Kaufman 202-224-5042
DE Senator Carper 202-228-2441
DE Congressman Castle 202-225-4165.


MAFMC RECOMMENDS LONGER SEA BASS SEASON

In an early February meeting, the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council passed a motion recommending the minimum size for sea bass of 12.5-inches, a daily possession limit of 25 fish and suggested examining a split season of May 22nd through August 8th and September 4th through October 4th. If this scenario does not meet the allocated Total Allowable Catch, then the Council recommended accepting the same measures that the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission approved: a single season from May 22nd through September 12th, a daily possession limit of 25 fish and a minimum size of 12.5 inches. Stay tuned!

DELAWARE TO HOLD SUMMER FLOUNDER MEETING

The DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife will hold a public hearing at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 23 regarding proposed amendments to the Tidal Finfish Regulations concerning summer flounder. The hearing will be held in the DNREC auditorium, Richardson and Robbins Building, 89 Kings Highway, Dover.

Four management options that include potential minimum size limits ranging from 18.5 to 19 inches with creel limits that range from two to four fish will be presented. In addition, two of the four options will include open seasons as part of the management plan.

Beginning March 4, 2010, individuals may submit written comments or request additional information by contacting the Fisheries Section, Division of Fish and Wildlife, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901, 302-739-9914. The record will remain open for written or email comments until 4:30 p.m., March 31, 2010.

OCEAN CITY'S SOUTH JETTY CLOSED TO FISHERMEN

Effective immediately, the South Jetty is permanently closed to jetty fisherman from the "hump" to the tip. Between the angler who died after getting swept off the Indian River Jetty and around a half dozen getting knocked off the South Jetty, the Maryland DNR felt that it is unsafe for fishermen to fish off the South Jetty.

BLACK SEA BASS QUOTA DOUBLED

The National Marine Fisheries Service has decided to increase the total allowable catch (TAC) for black sea bass in 2010 from 2.71 million pounds to 4.5 million pounds. Currently, anglers will only be allowed to fish for black sea bass during the months of June and September. No word on how many more months will be open based upon the increase in the total allowable catch. Stay tuned to this website for any updates.

MARYLAND FLOUNDER MEETING RESCHEDULED

The meeting to discuss 2010 flounder regulations has been rescheduled to March 2nd. The meeting will be held at Wor-Wic Community College at 7:00 pm in Guerrieri Hall Room 101. This meeting is open to the public and is being held to get a feel on which of the 5 flounder options the public favors. These meetings really do make a difference. The publics input plays a big part in determining which option will go into effect. Here are the options:

Option 1 - 3 fish @ 18.5" 4/17 to 9/21 season

Option 2 - 3 fish @ 18.5" 4/24 to 9/24 season

Option 3 - 3 fish @ 18.5" 6/8 to 10/30 season

Option 4 - 3 fish @ 18.5" 5/22 to 10/16 season

Option 5 - 3 fish @ 19.0" 4/17 to 11/22 season

In the writers humble opinion, Option 5 seems to be the best for maximizing our fishing season and allowing anglers to take advantage of the superb flounder fishing in September, October and even into early November. It would also open the season for those anglers who like to drift the Thorofare in April and May before all the tourists arrive.

HIGHLIGHTS OF COASTAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING

I attended the Coastal Fisheries Advisory Committee Meeting last night. Here are the highlights:
*** Maryland is working on a Recreational Fishing License that will take effect in January 2011. Until then, anglers need to register with the Federal Angler Registry.
*** Weakfish stocks and catches are at an all-time low. Looks like the 2010 regulation will go to 1 fish per person/per trip. Size will probably stay at 13-inches.
*** Black sea bass is currently closed in state and federal waters. In 2010, the season will be open in June and September. There is a possibility that the Total Allowable Catch for 2010 will be doubled, meaning that the season could be open for at least 4 months. The meeting to discuss the change in TAC will be held on Feb 2nd.
*** 2010's flounder regulations will shoot for a reduction in catch of 14% to 25%. Several options were laid out, with most in the room favoring an early-April to mid-October season. Size will likely be 18.5-inches, although a 19-inch minimum is being considered if it will add fishing days in the fall. It looks like the creel limit will be 3 fish per person.
*** It looks like Delaware and Virginia will be at an 18.5-inch minimum size for flounder in 2010.