Commercial hook & line fisherman John Mihale commented on the proposed initial black sea bass commercial trip limit for the Summer Period (April - September), which is 125 lbs.   He felt that this limit was too high and would surely result in a significant closure of the black sea bass commercial fishery during Period Two.   Mr. Mihale noted that the 2003 Period Two sea bass quota was 131,228 lbs., which included a rollover of uncaught quota from Period One.   The 2004 Period Two quota is 135,100 lbs.   In 2003, with a 100 lb. trip limit in place for Period Two, there was a closure from August 12 - September 15.    DEC has indicated that it will use trip limits so as to avoid closures and Mr. Mihale felt that the proposed initial trip limit of 125 lbs. for black sea bass in Period Two violates this approach.   He suggested an initial trip limit of 60 lbs. and then monitor landings to see if the limit could be raised to perhaps 100 lbs. for a portion of Period Two.    He also suggested that DEC develop more formal guidelines that would guide the Department in changing trip limits within a season, based on recent catch history, the amount of quota still available to be harvested, and the amount of time left in the time period/fishing season.

Councilor Freierman commented that assuring that a fishery stays continually open for as long as possible is not a goal shared equally by all segments of the commercial fishing industry.

 

Page last modified Monday, March 29, 2004 by George E. Carroll