[Rimarinefisheries] ASMFC Releases Smooth Dogfish Draft Addendum IV for Public Comment

[rimarinefisheries at listserve.ri.gov]

Please note the RIDEM has not scheduled a hearing for our state but written comments can be submitted to the ASMFC, information on comment period and contact information can be found below.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, MAY 19, 2016
PRESS CONTACT, TINA BERGER, 703.842.0740


ASMFC Releases Smooth Dogfish Draft Addendum IV for Public Comment
States Schedule Hearings for late June

Arlington, VA - The states of Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Maryland and North Carolina have scheduled their hearings to gather public comment on Draft Addendum IV to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Coastal Sharks. The details of those hearings follow.


Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
June 28, 2016 at 7 PM
Marine Headquarters
Boating Education Center
333 Ferry Road
Old Lyme, Connecticut
Contact: Colleen Giannini<mailto:colleen.giannini at ct.gov> at 860.447.4308

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
June 28, 2016 at 6:30 PM
Bureau of Marine Resources
205 North Belle Mead Road
East Setauket, New York
Contact: Steve Heins<mailto:Steve.Heins at dec.ny.gov> at 631.444.0435

New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife
June 22, 2016 at 6:30 PM
Nacote Creek Marine Law Enforcement Office
360 North New York Road, Mile Marker 51
Port Republic, New Jersey
Contact: Russ Allen<mailto:russ.allen at dep.nj.gov> at 609.748.2037
Maryland Department of Natural Resources
June 21, 2016 at 3:30 - 5:00 PM
Ocean Pines Library Conference Room
11107 Cathell Road
Ocean Pines, Maryland
Contact: Michael Luisi<mailto:michael.luisi at maryland.gov> at 410.260.8341

North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries
June 23, 2016 at 5:00 PM
Dare County Center
Courthouse Campus
950 Marshall C. Collins Dr.
Manteo, North Carolina
Contact: Holly White<mailto:Holly.White at ncdenr.gov> at 252.264.3911

The purpose of the Draft Addendum is to maintain consistency between federal and state FMPs, where possible, and to better incorporate the intent of the smooth dogfish limited exception  in the Shark Conservation Act of 2010 (SCA) into state regulations.

Under current regulations, commercial fishermen with only a state commercial fishing license can land smooth dogfish with corresponding fins removed from the carcass. The Draft Addendum proposes to amend the FMP to allow smooth dogfish carcasses to be landed with corresponding fins removed from the carcass as long as the total retained catch, by weight, is composed of at least 25 percent smooth dogfish. This option is consistent with the federal catch composition requirement, which was included in NOAA Fisheries' final rule for Amendment 9.

Fishermen and other interested groups are encouraged to provide input on the Draft Addendum either by attending state public hearings or providing written comment. The Draft Addendum can be obtained at http://www.asmfc.org/files/PublicInput/CoastalSharksDraftAddendumIV_PublicComment.pdf or via the Commission's website, www.asmfc.org<http://www.asmfc.org>, under Public Input. Public comment will be accepted until 5:00 PM (EST) on July 11, 2016 and should be forwarded to Ashton Harp, FMP Coordinator, 1050 N. Highland St, Suite A-N, Arlington, VA 22201; 703.842.0741 (FAX) or at aharp at asmfc.org<mailto:aharp at asmfc.org> (Subject line: Draft Addendum IV).

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PR16-15

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Tina Berger
Director of Communications
Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission
1050 N. Highland Street, Suite 200A-N
Arlington, VA 22201

703.842.0740
tberger at asmfc.org<mailto:tberger at asmfc.org>
www.asmfc.org
Visit us on Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/AtlanticStatesMarineFisheriesCommission> and Twitter<https://twitter.com/ASMFC>

Vision: Sustainably Managing Atlantic Coastal Fisheries

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