Lower Summer Flounder Quotas to Keep Rebuilding on Track; Public Comments Accepted through Dec 6

NOAA Fisheries Service has proposed new management measures for the 2006 summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass fisheries. In June 2005, an assessment of the summer flounder stock indicated that overfishing is occurring. Although the summer flounder stock continues to increase, it is increasing at a lower rate and is currently at a smaller size than previously forecast. In light of the new assessment, the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council proposed a Total Allowable Landings (TAL) of 26 million lb for 2006, 2007, and 2008 -- a 14-percent decrease from the 2005 TAL of 30.3 million lb.

After careful review, NOAA Fisheries Service has concluded that the Council's summer flounder TAL recommendation fails to meet the minimum standard necessary because it would result in only a 25-to 30-percent probability of meeting the target fishing mortality rate. The setting of an annual TAL with less than a 50-percent probability of achieving the target would be contrary to the objectives of the Fishery Management Plan (FMP), and would violate a Federal Court Order requiring that the TAL have at least a 50-percent probability of achieving the target.

Therefore, NOAA is proposing a 2006 TAL of 23.59 million lb, which has a 50-percent probability of achieving the target fishing mortality rate. The proposed TAL is a 22-percent decrease for 2006 from the 2005 TAL of 30.3 million lb, and a 28.5-percent decrease from the previous specification of 33 million lb for 2006. The initial TAL would be allocated 60 percent to the commercial sector and 40 percent to the recreational sector, as specified in the FMP.

These state quota allocations are preliminary and are subject to a reduction if there are overages of a state's quota for the previous fishing year. In addition, NOAA Fisheries Service has conditionally approved four research projects for the harvest of the portion of the quota that has been recommended by the Council to be set aside for research purposes. This proposed rule also would make changes to the regulations regarding the commercial black sea bass fishery.