Article by Larry Jock
Changes made to shark regulations effective August 2nd
Amendment 5a of the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan established a new minimum size limit for the large hammerhead shark species (great, smooth, and scalloped) of 78 inches (6.5 feet) fork length (FL), which becomes effective on August 2, 2013. The fork length measurement is the straight-line distance between the tip of the shark’s nose and the fork of the tail.
The size limit for other shark species and the retention limits remain the same.
Oceanic whitetip and hammerhead sharks cannot be possessed or landed by a vessel that also possesses or lands any tunas, billfish, or swordfish.
NOAA & MD Fisheries to hold public meeting on fish release methods
NOAA Fisheries will be holding a public meeting on August 7th from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm at the Ocean Pines Library to help anglers improve our marine fisheries, by discussing best handling practices when releasing fish, and learning about how anglers on other coasts are improving survival of angler released fish.
NOAA Fisheries Service and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources are hosting the meeting.
Anglers will learn about:
• the latest techniques, such as recompression devices, that may improve the survival of the deepwater fish released;
• ways to reduce barotrauma effects (an increase in internal gas pressure that prevents fish from descending after being raised to the surface);
• release methods and devices being use on the west, south Atlantic, and Gulf of Mexico coasts; and
• the FishSmart and Best Practices programs that promote careful release and fish survival practices.
Anglers will be able to share their ideas with fisheries managers and scientist on how to best handle released fish.
For further information call Paul Perra at NOAA Fisheries (978-281-9153) or email at [email protected].
