DEP Marine Fisheries News
ASMFC PUBLIC HEARING ON TAUTOG
INFORMATIONAL MEETING ON 2011 RECREATIONAL SUMMER FLOUNDER, SCUP and BLACK SEA BASS FISHERY MEASURES

The DEP Marine Fisheries Division is hosting an Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission Public Hearing on Tautog (blackfish) Management. The Draft Addendum proposes two changes to the tautog management program: (1) address the illegal trade of live tautog and, (2) prevent increases in fishing mortality (F) prior to the completion of the next assessment given that the actual harvest has exceeded the target in recent years.

At the same time, Marine Fisheries will be holding an informational meeting to hear public input on proposed approaches to meet the mandatory harvest target for the 2011 recreational summer flounder, scup and black sea bass fisheries.

Connecticut may relax summer flounder regulations in response to an approximately 33% increase in the 2011 harvest limit under the provisions of the Fishery Management Plan of the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. These groups worked to avoid a serious reduction in scup fishing opportunity in 2011 and voted to allow states to maintain 2010 regulations. Black sea bass are managed on a coastwide basis. That fishery is facing greater restrictions in 2011 including an increase in minimum size and a more abbreviated open season The Department is seeking input on various options that include changes to the open season, creel limit and/or minimum size for summer flounder and will provide more detail on regional and coastwide management actions for scup and sea bass.

The meeting will be held at:

7:00 PM, Tuesday, February 8, 2011
DEP Marine Headquarters Education Center
333 Ferry Road
Old Lyme, CT 06371


Take I-95 to Exit 70 to Route 156 south, turn right onto Ferry Road, follow to the end.
The Education Center located at the rear of the property.



For further information, contact the DEP Marine Fisheries Division by email at dep.marine.fisheries@ct.gov, by mail at P.O. Box 719, Old Lyme, CT 06371 or by telephone at 860.434.6043 between the hours of 8:30 AM and 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday.

The Department of Environmental Protection is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and service provider. In conformance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, DEP makes every effort to provide equally effective services for persons with disabilities. Individuals with disabilities who need this information in an alternative format, to allow them to benefit and/or participate in the agency’s programs and services, should call 860-424-3051 or 860-418-5937 or e-mail Marcia Bonitto, ADA Coordinator, at Marcia.Bonitto@CT.Gov. Persons who are hearing impaired should call the State of Connecticut relay number 711. Requests for accommodations must be made at least two weeks prior to the program date.




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Posted Thu Jan 27, 2011 4:59 pm

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