[Rimarinefisheries] MAFMC and ASMFC to Hold Public Hearings for Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Commercial/Recreational Allocation Amendment

Tue Jan 19 09:08:18 EST 2021

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, JANUARY 15, 2021
PRESS CONTACT, TINA BERGER, 703.842.0749

MAFMC and ASMFC to Hold Public Hearings for Summer Flounder, Scup,
and Black Sea Bass Commercial/Recreational Allocation Amendment
The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (Commission) are seeking public comment on the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Commercial/Recreational Allocation Amendment. Comments may be submitted at any of five virtual public hearings to be held between February 17 and March 2, 2021 or via written comment until March 16, 2021.
The Council and Commission are developing this joint amendment to consider adjusting the allocations of catch or landings between the commercial and recreational fisheries for summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass. The commercial and recreational allocations for all three species are currently based on historical proportions of landings (for summer flounder and black sea bass) or catch (for scup) from each sector. Recent changes in how recreational catch is estimated have resulted in a discrepancy between the current levels of estimated recreational harvest and the allocations of summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass to the recreational sector. Some changes have also been made to commercial catch data since the allocations were established. This amendment considers whether modifications to the allocations are needed in light of these and other changes in the fisheries. The amendment also considers options that would allow a portion of the allowable landings to be transferred between the commercial and recreational sectors each year, in either direction, based on the needs of each sector.

We encourage you to visit the Council's Summer Flounder, Scup, Black Sea Bass Commercial/Recreational Allocation Amendment [https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://mafmc.org__;!!KKphUJtCzQ!bEyDJgPckVcMe5bRgD5xpVByPM8txoK_9J71orrBF3MNvIm0gQjypu-GIGnf1feYiaI13bOZBKI1$ [mafmc[.]org]]<https://urldefense.com/v3/__http:/www.mafmc.org/actions/sfsbsb-allocation-amendment__;!!KKphUJtCzQ!ai4N880gj78nbAEgbVqEHs374OsJ2nlWTFAr7w-XzpuLvmg1AxrqMQzIMp1KNO9BqUUKF88b$> web page or the Commission's Public Input [https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://asmfc.org__;!!KKphUJtCzQ!bEyDJgPckVcMe5bRgD5xpVByPM8txoK_9J71orrBF3MNvIm0gQjypu-GIGnf1feYiaI13XNlatuE$ [asmfc[.]org]]<https://urldefense.com/v3/__http:/www.asmfc.org/about-us/public-input__;!!KKphUJtCzQ!ai4N880gj78nbAEgbVqEHs374OsJ2nlWTFAr7w-XzpuLvmg1AxrqMQzIMp1KNO9BqXOdyLcK$> web page, where you can read the Public Hearing Document, the Draft Amendment, and watch the public hearing presentation (to be posted by Friday, February 12, 2021). The Council's Public Hearing Document is an abbreviated version of the amendment which summarizes proposed management options and impacts. The Commission's Draft Amendment is a more comprehensive management document that will resemble the Commission's final amendment once approved. Both documents contain identical options for public input, but each have been developed according to each management body's differing requirements.

Written Comments
Written comments may be submitted through March 16, 2021 by any of the following methods:

1.       ONLINE:
https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.mafmc.org/comments/sfsbsb-allocation-amendment__;!!KKphUJtCzQ!bEyDJgPckVcMe5bRgD5xpVByPM8txoK_9J71orrBF3MNvIm0gQjypu-GIGnf1feYiaI13XEvy7uR$ [mafmc[.]org] [https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://mafmc.org__;!!KKphUJtCzQ!bEyDJgPckVcMe5bRgD5xpVByPM8txoK_9J71orrBF3MNvIm0gQjypu-GIGnf1feYiaI13bOZBKI1$ [mafmc[.]org]]<https://urldefense.com/v3/__http:/www.mafmc.org/comments/sfsbsb-allocation-amendment__;!!KKphUJtCzQ!ai4N880gj78nbAEgbVqEHs374OsJ2nlWTFAr7w-XzpuLvmg1AxrqMQzIMp1KNO9Bqc_25FPU$>

2.       EMAIL:
kdancy at mafmc.org<mailto:kdancy 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.
Virtual Hearing Schedule
You are encouraged to attend any of the following five virtual public hearings and to provide oral or written comments at these hearings. While we encourage you to attend the hearing that is targeted toward your regional groupings of states or an individual state, anyone is welcome to participate in any hearing.

Date
Regional Grouping
Contact(s)
Wednesday, February 17
6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Massachusetts and Rhode Island
Nichola Meserve<mailto:nichola.meserve at mass.gov> (MA), 617-626-1531
Jason McNamee<mailto:jason.mcnamee at dem.ri.gov> (RI), 401-222-4700
Thursday, February 18
6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
New Jersey
Joseph Cimino<mailto:Joseph.Cimino at dep.nj.gov> (NJ), 609-748-2063
Wednesday, February 24
6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Delaware and Maryland
John Clark<mailto:John.Clark at delaware.gov> (DE), 302-739-9914
Sonny Gwinn<mailto:sonnygwin at verizon.net> (MD), 410-208-1149
Scott Lenox<mailto:fishinoc at hotmail.com> (MD), 410-430-1016
Monday, March 1
6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Virginia and North Carolina
Ellen Bolen<mailto:ellen.bolen at mrc.virginia.gov> (VA), 757-247-2269
Chris Batsavage<mailto:Chris.Batsavage at ncdenr.gov> (NC), 252-241-2995
Tuesday, March 2
6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Connecticut and New York
Justin Davis<mailto:justin.davis at ct.gov> (CT), 860-434-6043
Maureen Davidson<mailto:maureen.davidson at dec.ny.gov> (NY), 631-444-0483
Webinar Connection Instructions
To register for a public hearing please click here: Public Hearing Registration [https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://attendee.gotowebinar.com__;!!KKphUJtCzQ!bEyDJgPckVcMe5bRgD5xpVByPM8txoK_9J71orrBF3MNvIm0gQjypu-GIGnf1feYiaI13X1TXdSi$ [attendee[.]gotowebinar[.]com]]<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/attendee.gotowebinar.com/rt/1218348356340238349__;!!KKphUJtCzQ!ai4N880gj78nbAEgbVqEHs374OsJ2nlWTFAr7w-XzpuLvmg1AxrqMQzIMp1KNO9Bqd5fUHG8$> and select the hearing(s) you plan to attend from the dropdown menu. Hearings will be held via GoToWebinar, which can be accessed using a computer, tablet, or smartphone. When connecting to audio, we strongly encourage participants to use computer voice over internet (VoIP) so you can ask questions and provide input. To attend the webinar in listen only mode, dial 1-877-309-2074 and enter access code 128-060-916. Those joining by phone only will be limited to listening to the presentation and will not be able to provide input. For technical assistance setting up and logging into GoToWebinar, contact Savannah Lewis at 703-842-0715.

If you are connected only by phone in listen only mode, you will not show up as a webinar attendee. In the event that there are no webinar attendees, the public hearing will be cancelled unless state staff request that the hearing content is presented.

Tips for Providing Public Comment
We value your input. To be most effective, we request that your comment include specific details as to why you support or oppose a particular alternative. Specifically, please address the following:

  *   Which proposed alternative(s) do you support, and which do you oppose?
  *   Why do you support or oppose the alternative(s)?
  *   Is there any additional information you think should be considered?

Contacts
For additional information and updates, please visit: https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.mafmc.org/actions/sfsbsb-allocation-amendment__;!!KKphUJtCzQ!bEyDJgPckVcMe5bRgD5xpVByPM8txoK_9J71orrBF3MNvIm0gQjypu-GIGnf1feYiaI13b6kzlS1$ [mafmc[.]org] [https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://mafmc.org__;!!KKphUJtCzQ!bEyDJgPckVcMe5bRgD5xpVByPM8txoK_9J71orrBF3MNvIm0gQjypu-GIGnf1feYiaI13bOZBKI1$ [mafmc[.]org]]<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.mafmc.org/actions/sfsbsb-allocation-amendment__;!!KKphUJtCzQ!ai4N880gj78nbAEgbVqEHs374OsJ2nlWTFAr7w-XzpuLvmg1AxrqMQzIMp1KNO9BqX0agWoz$>. If you have any questions, please contact either:
Kiley Dancy, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, kdancy at mafmc.org<mailto:kdancy at mafmc.org>, 302-526-5257
Dustin Colson Leaning, Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, dleaning at asmfc.org<mailto:dleaning at asmfc.org>, 703-842-0714

A copy of the press release can also be found at https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.asmfc.org/uploads/file/6001eb69pr01_SFSBSB-Allocation-public-hearings.pdf__;!!KKphUJtCzQ!bEyDJgPckVcMe5bRgD5xpVByPM8txoK_9J71orrBF3MNvIm0gQjypu-GIGnf1feYiaI13V2vYLBY$ [asmfc[.]org] [https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://asmfc.org__;!!KKphUJtCzQ!bEyDJgPckVcMe5bRgD5xpVByPM8txoK_9J71orrBF3MNvIm0gQjypu-GIGnf1feYiaI13XNlatuE$ [asmfc[.]org]]<https://urldefense.com/v3/__http:/www.asmfc.org/uploads/file/6001eb69pr01_SFSBSB-Allocation-public-hearings.pdf__;!!KKphUJtCzQ!ai4N880gj78nbAEgbVqEHs374OsJ2nlWTFAr7w-XzpuLvmg1AxrqMQzIMp1KNO9BqRbasCul$>

----------------------------------------
Tina Berger
Director of Communications
Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission
1050 N. Highland Street, Suite 200A-N
Arlington, VA 22201
703.842.0740
https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.asmfc.org__;!!KKphUJtCzQ!bEyDJgPckVcMe5bRgD5xpVByPM8txoK_9J71orrBF3MNvIm0gQjypu-GIGnf1feYiaI13R8o7t_F$ [asmfc[.]org] [https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://asmfc.org__;!!KKphUJtCzQ!bEyDJgPckVcMe5bRgD5xpVByPM8txoK_9J71orrBF3MNvIm0gQjypu-GIGnf1feYiaI13XNlatuE$ [asmfc[.]org]]<https://urldefense.com/v3/__http:/www.asmfc.org__;!!KKphUJtCzQ!ai4N880gj78nbAEgbVqEHs374OsJ2nlWTFAr7w-XzpuLvmg1AxrqMQzIMp1KNO9BqatsBlU1$>

Sustainable and Cooperative Management of Atlantic Coastal Fisheries

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