From the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife:

The following is a news release from the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

ASMFC Winter Flounder Board
Fast Tracks Development of Addendum
To Initiate Rebuilding of Inshore Stocks

Alexandria, Va. -The Commission's Winter Flounder Management Board approved the development of Draft Addendum I to Amendment 1 the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for the Inshore Stocks of Winter Flounder. The Draft Addendum will propose a suite of management measures to reduce fishing mortality on the inshore stocks of winter flounder (0-3 miles). The range of management measures will include zero possession limits; commercial trip limits; recreational bag/size and seasonal limits; and measures to prevent an influx of effort in state waters for Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic (SNE/MA) and Gulf of Maine (GOM) stocks.

This action is taken in response to the findings of the 2008 Groundfish Assessment Report Meeting (GARM III), which estimates that the SNE/MA stock is at 9 percent of the target biomass (overfished) with overfishing occurring and that the GOM stock is likely to be overfished with overfishing likely to be occurring.

Another factor influencing the Board's action is pending federal management measures on groundfish stocks, which will significantly reduce fishing mortality on federally-managed groundfish stocks in offshore waters (3 - 200 miles). Options under the Draft Addendum will seek to enhance stock rebuilding efforts throughout the species range by reducing fishing related mortality on inshore spawning stocks.

The Board will review and consider approval of Draft Addendum 1 for public comment in March. If approved, the Draft Addendum will be released for public comment and review in March/April, with state public hearings to be conducted in April. The Board will meet again in May, during the Commission's Spring Meeting, to review public comment and advisory panel input, and consider final action on the Addendum.

For more information, please contact Christopher Vonderweidt, Fishery Management Plan Coordinator, at (202) 289-6400 or cvonderweidt@asmfc.org.

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