Article by Larry Jock
NOAA Announces Recovery of Spiny Dogfish Stock
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced on June 23, 2010 that the jointly managed (Mid-Atlantic and New England Councils) spiny dogfish stock has been rebuilt. The consequence of this success is that the federal waters catch level for the dogfish fishery will increase from 12 million pounds to 15 million pounds this year. This revised catch level is consistent with the level set by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) for state waters. Vessel trip limits will remain at 3,000 pounds for the fishing year from May 1, 2010 to April 30, 2011.
New scientific information defining the size for a rebuilt dogfish stock became available in April, after catch level recommendations were made by the New England and Mid Atlantic Fishery Management Councils. The Councils, which consist of fishing industry, state agency and non-government organization representatives jointly develop management measures for this species that must be approved by NOAA. The Councils recommended that NOAA Fisheries Service set a quota that would allow for more stability in future landings in this fishery. The higher landing limit will allow a larger harvest while still accounting for concerns about relatively low numbers of mature females expected to enter the spawning population in the next few years.
Dogfish join nine other stocks of fish managed by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Council that are fully rebuilt. Of the stocks for which status can be determined, all stocks managed by the Council are now fully rebuilt but for summer flounder which is 77% rebuilt. It is anticipated that summer flounder will be fully rebuilt by 2013 per the Council's rebuilding plan. In addition, no stocks managed by the Council are subject to overfishing.
NOAA Approves Final 2010 Black Sea Bass Regulations
NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has approved the final 2010 management measures for black sea bass recreational fisheries. The final rule implementing these measures will be published in the Federal Register on July 8, 2010, and will remain in effect until further notification. Anglers are allowed to keep 25 black sea bass per day measuring 12.5-inches and larger.
Boaters Need to Slow Down in Massey’s Landing Channel
Boaters heading out of Massey’s Landing near Millsboro or boating on Indian River Bay need to be aware that a short section of the channel between Massey’s Ditch and Pot-Nets Seaside along Middle Island has been designated and newly marked as a “slow no wake” zone, the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Section announced.
“This part of the channel is very narrow and shoaled in, so in the interest of keeping boaters safer we have marked this section as a no-wake area,” said Capt. Aaron Hurd of Fish and Wildlife Enforcement’s Sussex County office.
“The area was the scene of a fatal boating accident involving excessive speed in August 2008, when a jet ski collided with a fishing boat,” Capt. Hurd added.