Page 12. MAINE COASTAL NEWS May 2009
Commercial Fishing News
Winter Flounder Board Approves Addendum I
ALEXANDRIA, VA - The Atlantic States with current size limits and seasons mid-June. The Board will meet in August to more information, please contact
Marine Fisheries Commission’s Winter maintained and a 50 pound possession limit review the Technical Committee’s Christopher Vonderweidt, Fishery
Flounder Management Board approved for non-federally permitted commercial evaluations of state proposals and take final Management Plan Coordinator, at (202) 289-
Addendum I to Amendment 1 the Interstate fishermen. Both measures will allow for the action. States will be required to implement 6400 or cvonderwiedt@asmfc.org.
Fishery Management Plan for the Inshore consistent application of management their regulations by November 1, 2009. For
Stocks of Winter Flounder. The Addendum measures in state water fisheries and are
establishes harvest reductions for both the intended to complement the federal interim
Funding for Maine DMR for
Gulf of Maine (GOM) and Southern New rule which prohibits any take of SNE/MA
England/Mid-Atlantic (SNE/MA) inshore winter flounder from offshore waters (an
stocks of winter flounder (0 to 3 miles). estimated 62 percent reduction in fishing
Shortnose Sturgeon Study
This action is taken in response to the mortality). The Board set bag and
findings of the 2008 Groundfish Assessment possession limits that are low enough to WASHINGTON D.C. – U.S. Senators that are critical to keeping our fisheries alive
Review Meeting (GARM III), which discourage directed fishing but allow Olympia J. Snowe and Susan Collins (R- and prosperous.”
estimates that the SNE/MA stock is at 9 fishermen to keep their winter flounder Maine) today announced that the U.S. Currently, the status of the shortnose
percent of the target biomass (overfished) bycatch. The two fish recreational bag limit Department of Commerce National Oceanic sturgeon population in the Penobscot River
with overfishing occurring and that the is estimated to achieve approximately a 50 and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is unknown. According to NOAA, this
GOM stock is likely to be overfished with percent reduction in harvest, while the 50 has awarded $125,333.18 to the Maine study will assess the distribution,
overfishing likely to be occurring. The pound commercial possession limit is Department of Marine Resources to fund an abundance and movements of adult and
Addendum’s provisions are also intended estimated to achieve approximately a 65 investigation into the distribution and sub-adult shortnose sturgeon in the
to complement federal management percent reduction in harvest. abundance of shortnose sturgeon in the Penobscot River and provide management
measures on groundfish stocks under the Cooperative management between Penobscot River. agencies with a better idea of their status.
final interim rule, which will significantly state and federal waters on winter flounder is “Maine relies heavily on the health of its The information collected will also help plan
reduce fishing mortality on federally- particularly important because of the unique marine resources and these conservation conservation practices within the current
managed groundfish stocks, including migration patterns and spawning site fidelity efforts are critical to protecting our state’s range of the species and provide insight into
winter flounder, in offshore waters (3 to 200 of this species. When winter flounder natural habitats,” said Senators Snowe and the potential benefits of range expansion
miles). migrate to inshore state water spawning Collins. “This grant funding is essential to into historic habitat should lower river dams
For the GOM, Addendum I requires an grounds, they become concentrated in helping the Maine Department of Marine be removed from the Penobscot system.
11 percent reduction in fishing mortality for certain areas, making it easy for anglers to Resources implement successful projects
the recreational sector and a 250 pound locate and remove a substantial portion of
possession limit for non-federally permitted them. Concentrated fishing effort on
Office for Law Enforcement Starts
commercial fishermen (estimated 31 percent spawning females, which are the most
reduction in harvest). Recreational productive part of the population, can result
reductions may be achieved by using in a larger net loss to the population than the
Re-accreditation Process
possession limits, seasons, or other landings may suggest. The Addendum’s NOAA’s Fisheries Service Office for tion, administration, communications, prop-
measures. Commercial measures under the measures seek to enhance stock rebuilding Law Enforcement will begin a formal review erty and evidence control, and relationships
final interim rule are intended to achieve at efforts throughout the species range by on April 26 to retain its accreditation with the with other law enforcement agencies.
least an 11 percent reduction in fishing reducing fishing related mortality on inshore International Commission on Accreditation Public comment is an integral part of the
mortality. spawning stocks. for Law Enforcement Agencies. review process. If you have experience work-
For the SNE/MA, the Addendum States are required to submit proposals Accreditation is a voluntary process for ing with the Office for Law Enforcement on
establishes a two fish recreational bag limit to meet the required harvest reductions by law enforcement agencies to demonstrate enforcement initiatives, or have interacted
their compliance with national standards. with office personnel as a constituent, you
The purpose of the accreditation program is are encouraged to contact the commission.
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with assurance that the agency is meeting its is comprised of four national and interna-
policies and procedures, as well as facilitate tional law enforcement agencies, including
a review of the office’s status and readiness. the National Organization of Black Law En-
Approximately 3.5 percent of federal, forcement Executives, the Police Executives
state and local law enforcement agencies are Research Forum, the National Sheriffs Asso-
accredited. The standards cover Office for ciation and the International Association of
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