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+--- Thread: Weakfish Proposal (/showthread.php?tid=217151)
Weakfish Proposal - Hutch00 - 08-27-2005
The following is a press release from the Atlantic States Marine
Fisheries Council regarding the Weakfish Management Plan
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, AUGUST 16, 2005
PRESS CONTACT, TINA BERGER (202) 289-6400
Weakfish Draft Addendum I Approved for Public Review & Comment
Addendum to Address Stock Decline
In response to a significant decline in stock abundance, the
Commission's
Weakfish Management Board has approved sending forward Draft Addendum I
to
Amendment 4 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Weakfish for
public review and comment. Concern over declining commercial and
recreational catches requires the Board to consider reductions in
recreational bag limits, commercial and recreational seasons, and
bycatch
allowances.
The Draft Addendum also addresses a major challenge in assessing the
weakfish population, namely significant gaps in biological data such as
age and length. It proposes new required levels of biological sampling
intensity and considers the implications of state noncompliance.
The Board will meet in early November to review public comment on the
Draft Addendum and consider its final approval. The addendum process
provides the states the opportunity to conduct hearings on the proposed
actions. Information on any scheduled hearings will be released once it
becomes available.
Copies the Draft Addendum will be available by early September and can
be
obtained via the Commission's website at www.asmfc.org under Breaking
News
or by contacting the Commission at (202) 289-6400. Public comment
should
be forwarded to Braddock Spear, Weakfish Fishery Management Plan
Coordinator, at 1444 'Eye' Street, NW, Sixth Floor, Washington, DC
20005;
(202)289-6051 (fax) or comments@asmfc.org (Subject line: Weakfish). For
more information, please contact Braddock Spear at (202)289-6400 or
bspear@asmfc.org.
###
ASMFC Vision: Healthy, self-sustaining populations of all Atlantic
coast
fish species or successful restoration well in progress by the year
2015.
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