[Rimarinefisheries] Reminder: MAFMC and ASMFC to Hold Scoping Hearings for Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Commercial/Recreational Allocation Amendment - RI Hearing Feb 26th

Mon Feb 3 12:25:17 EST 2020

REMINDER: MAFMC and ASMFC to Hold Scoping Hearings for Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Commercial/Recreational Allocation Amendment
This is a reminder that the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (Commission) have scheduled a series of scoping hearings to gather public input on the range of issues and information to be considered in the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Commercial/Recreational Allocation Amendment. Hearings will be held February 13 – March 3. Written comments will be accepted through March 17, 2020. All comments provided at public hearings or in writing will be presented to the Council and Commission.

This amendment will consider potential modifications to the allocations of catch or landings between the commercial and recreational sectors for summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass. The commercial and recreational allocations for all three species were set in the mid-1990s based on historical proportions of landings (for summer flounder and black sea bass) or catch (for scup) from each sector. In July 2018, the Marine Recreational Information Program released revisions to its time series of catch (harvest and discards) estimates. These revisions resulted in much higher recreational catch estimates compared to previous estimates, affecting the entire time series of data going back to 1981. Some changes have also been made to commercial catch data since the allocations were established. The current commercial and recreational allocation percentages for all three species do not reflect the current understanding of the recent and historic proportions of catch and landings from the two sectors. This amendment will consider whether changes to these allocations are warranted. Please note that this amendment will not address recreational bag, size, or season limits for any species.

Scoping is the first and best opportunity to raise concerns related to the scope of issues that will be considered. You are encouraged to submit comments on which options may or may not be useful or practical for meeting the goal of this action and any other relevant issues the Council and Commission should consider.

Learn More
The Scoping and Public Information Document contains background information on summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass management and on issues that may be addressed in the amendment, as well as a description of the amendment process and timeline. This document, along with additional information and updates on development of this amendment, is available on the Council’s website at https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.mafmc.org_actions_sfsbsb-2Dallocation-2Damendment&d=DwIGaQ&c=tSLbvWYfvulPN3G_n48TUw&r=3BstAh1AIW6SHvV_EHOlOepYPd7JCak2xCc2dTp6fSKIbravRbCWe8iBt1PxQJ3O&m=vdc68katGrtUCKDIOe24e_jr86BewL8ScGDTcQsfQaI&s=qxZkxAkrY5lyF0b1kbTxzJI3jqjiji94yiunJccw2t4&e=  [mafmc.org]<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.mafmc.org_actions_sfsbsb-2Dallocation-2Damendment&d=DwMFAg&c=tSLbvWYfvulPN3G_n48TUw&r=XzmX5GTv6MlqEdzIVBZHl-6A6M577eF7p2sbOYuE2sk&m=VY_zpLNjPdY-liRnO4waCyPhngaU3XLoIXSXhK6JOTU&s=CoFE7Ogj5dTJHFBwMwGKKiuuf1Mi-aDseLYXkh0Nl1s&e=>.

Contacts
Julia Beaty, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, jbeaty at mafmc.org<mailto:jbeaty at mafmc.org>, 302-526-5250
Dustin Colson Leaning, Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, dleaning at asmfc.org<mailto:dleaning at asmfc.org>,
703-842-0740

[cid:image001.jpg at 01D5C549.B6840ED0]
Please note that some hearings will be held in conjunction with (immediately before or after) supplemental scoping hearings for an ongoing Bluefish Allocation Amendment. A schedule for the bluefish hearings will be posted at: https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.mafmc.org_actions_bluefish-2Dallocation-2Damendment&d=DwIGaQ&c=tSLbvWYfvulPN3G_n48TUw&r=3BstAh1AIW6SHvV_EHOlOepYPd7JCak2xCc2dTp6fSKIbravRbCWe8iBt1PxQJ3O&m=vdc68katGrtUCKDIOe24e_jr86BewL8ScGDTcQsfQaI&s=qfpnpxnuNfRgtGOiDZqZSedQOB2mENSlog8dJJLNDv0&e=  [mafmc.org]<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.mafmc.org_actions_bluefish-2Dallocation-2Damendment&d=DwMFAg&c=tSLbvWYfvulPN3G_n48TUw&r=XzmX5GTv6MlqEdzIVBZHl-6A6M577eF7p2sbOYuE2sk&m=VY_zpLNjPdY-liRnO4waCyPhngaU3XLoIXSXhK6JOTU&s=GmfHGeg6hhRJ_J76a9K3oORgk1VLQz2B-lKwm9r98Cg&e=>.

Written Comments
In addition to providing comments at any of the scheduled public hearings, you may submit written comments by 11:59 pm EST on Tuesday, March 17, 2020. Written comments may be sent by any of the following methods:

1.       ONLINE:
https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.mafmc.org_comments_sfsbsb-2Dallocation-2Damendment&d=DwIGaQ&c=tSLbvWYfvulPN3G_n48TUw&r=3BstAh1AIW6SHvV_EHOlOepYPd7JCak2xCc2dTp6fSKIbravRbCWe8iBt1PxQJ3O&m=vdc68katGrtUCKDIOe24e_jr86BewL8ScGDTcQsfQaI&s=Q-UsV8zeBRTR-hfgOlMRfrIAtiRb8oQ98MCb-CdmeyI&e=  [mafmc.org]<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.mafmc.org_comments_sfsbsb-2Dallocation-2Damendment&d=DwMFAg&c=tSLbvWYfvulPN3G_n48TUw&r=XzmX5GTv6MlqEdzIVBZHl-6A6M577eF7p2sbOYuE2sk&m=VY_zpLNjPdY-liRnO4waCyPhngaU3XLoIXSXhK6JOTU&s=CFrbOQBsTl1l03uypu6OAf7XWqtTGzZAalM_FsV6Z3k&e=>

2.       EMAIL:
jbeaty at mafmc.org<mailto:jbeaty at mafmc.org>

3.       MAIL or FAX:
Dr. Christopher Moore, Executive Director
Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council
800 North State Street, Suite 201
Dover, DE 19901
FAX: 302.674.5399
Please include “Fluke/Scup/Sea Bass Allocation Amendment” in the subject line if using email or fax, or on the outside of the envelope if submitting written comments. All comments, regardless of submission method, will be compiled into a single document for review and consideration by both the Council and Commission. Please do not send separate comments to the Council and Commission.

A PDF of the press release can be found here - https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.asmfc.org_uploads_file_5e14a9edpr20-2D01-5FSFSBSB-2DAllocation-2DScoping-2DHearings-5Ffinal.pdf&d=DwIGaQ&c=tSLbvWYfvulPN3G_n48TUw&r=3BstAh1AIW6SHvV_EHOlOepYPd7JCak2xCc2dTp6fSKIbravRbCWe8iBt1PxQJ3O&m=vdc68katGrtUCKDIOe24e_jr86BewL8ScGDTcQsfQaI&s=QGTSxSje6W_eArgzJOkyRcPo-DfeDSmf_mkCUlhKw50&e=  [asmfc.org]<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.asmfc.org_uploads_file_5e14a9edpr20-2D01-5FSFSBSB-2DAllocation-2DScoping-2DHearings-5Ffinal.pdf&d=DwMFAg&c=tSLbvWYfvulPN3G_n48TUw&r=XzmX5GTv6MlqEdzIVBZHl-6A6M577eF7p2sbOYuE2sk&m=VY_zpLNjPdY-liRnO4waCyPhngaU3XLoIXSXhK6JOTU&s=YxTH5a20Wxqcr_r_NEwfuZ1lYS6KYeFpiRgGaWefTfY&e=>

Thank you.

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