Article by Larry Jock
Point at Cape Henlopen to reopen Sept. 1
DNREC’s Division of Parks & Recreation today announced that the Point at Cape Henlopen State Park, including a stretch of ocean beach and dunes, and a half mile along the bay shoreline, will reopen beginning Saturday, Sept. 1. The Point was closed on March 1 for the benefit of threatened and endangered beachnesters and migratory shorebirds, including red knots, piping plovers, oystercatchers, least terns, and other species.
The nesting habitat on the ocean side will reopen Sept. 1. The bayside beach will remain closed until Oct. 1.
ASMFC & MAFMC Approve Limits for Summer Flounder, Scup, Black Sea Bass and Bluefish for 2019
The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (Commission) and the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) reviewed previously approved specifications for scup and established new specifications for black sea bass, bluefish, and summer flounder fisheries. The Commission also approved Draft Addendum XXXI for public comment and agreed to provide the states the opportunity to open their black sea bass recreational fisheries in February 2019.
Catch and landings limits for the summer flounder, scup, black sea bass, and bluefish fisheries were established for 2019 only. The Commission’s actions are final and apply to state waters (0-3 miles from shore). The Council will forward its recommendations for federal waters (3 – 200 miles from shore) to NOAA Fisheries’ Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Administrator for final approval.
Recreational harvest limits:
(millions of pounds)
Flounder - 5.15 (+16.5%)
Scup - 7.37 (same as 2017)
Black Sea Bass - 3.27 (-10.7%)
Bluefish - 11.62 (.3%)
