Increase in fluke quotas expected in ‘09 (APP article)

Fluke fishing from Manasquan Inlet to the shipping channels off Sandy Hook is good — some say the best of the season — and fisheries management officials will be aware of it when they sit down to decide this week on quotas for 2009.

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s summer flounder, scup and black sea bass board will recommend summer flounder quotas for next year when they meet from 8 a.m. until noon Wednesday at the Renaissance Philadelphia Hotel, 500 Stevens Dr., Philadelphia.

The science and statistical committee and the monitoring committee have met, and recommended a total allowable catch limit of 19 million pounds. The TAL is 15.77 million pounds this year.

The range that scientists considered in June and July was from 14.91 million pounds to 17.87 million pounds, and a lot will depend Wednesday on whether management officials feel comfortable with a recommendation that is higher.

John DePersenaire, research specialist with the Recreational Fishing Alliance, said the expected increase in quota is encouraging, but he feels the scientists may have to go back to the drawing board in the next couple of years, if the rebuilding goal at the end of 2012 remains fixed.

“The recommendation of 19 million pounds is pretty good for us,” he said.

“The scientists feel we’re right on track with 19 million, but they may have to go back and revisit the time lines and targets again before 2012.”

Jessica Coakley of the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council staff, said the recent stock assessment workshop accepted the estimate that the spawning stock biomass was 95.6 million pounds in 2007. The rebuilding target is estimated to be 132.4 million pounds by the end of 2012.

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