New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife Back to State of NJ Homepage Back to Fish and Wildlife Homepage Back to DEP Homepage 

March 12, 2002

PUBLIC MEETING ON BLACK SEA BASS MARCH 18

For more information contact:
Bruce Freeman at 609-292-7794

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC), the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC) and the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife will host a public meeting regarding the ASMFC's and MAFMC's proposed amendment to the Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan (FMP). The meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Monday, March 18, at the Grand Hotel, 1045 Beach Ave. in Cape May.

New changes to the FMP focus on black sea bass and would revise the quarterly commercial quota system for the species (as previously implemented in Amendment 9), address problems related to the wet storage of black sea bass pots/traps, establish specifications for black sea bass under the ASMFC's Interstate Fisheries Management Program Charter, implement tag requirements for black sea bass pots/traps and limit the number of black sea bass pots/traps fished by fishermen.

A copy of the proposed changes can be obtained by visiting the Commission's website at www.asmfc.org or the Council's website at www.mafmc.org, or by calling either office at 202-289-6400 or 302-674-2331.

Written comments will be accepted until April 15, 2002. Send correspondence to:

Michael Lewis
FMP Coordinator
ASMFC
1444 I Street, NW
Washington DC 20005
Fax: 202-289-6051
E-mail: mlewis@asmfc.org
or
Daniel T. Furlong
Executive Director
MAFMC
Room 2115, 300 S. New St.
Dover, DE 19904