Councilor Jordan reported briefly to the Council on the discussions of this work group, charged by the Council with identifying what conditions, or triggers, would warrant a relaxation of the current strict eligibility requirements in place for special commercial harvesting permits for fluke and striped bass and, once those conditions were present, what process and/or criteria should be used to determine who receives these permits.

The work group has not met since the July Council meeting. Councilor Freierman, chairman of the work group, has requested and is awaiting historical information from DEC. Councilor Jordan expressed concern about the attitude of current permit holders, many of whom will not likely be happy with any proposal to allow additional entrants into these commercial fisheries.

Mr. John Mihale reiterated an idea discussed at the previous Council meeting: as people relinquish their current striped bass permits for one reason or another, their tag allotments should be divided among the remaining striped bass permit holders, based on who has had their special permit the longest.

Council Sullivan, referencing the consumption advisory on striped bass, stated that wholesomeness and safety issues associated with consuming striped bass should be kept in mind when discussing the distribution of striped bass commercial harvest tags. Mr. Colvin noted that the current consumption advisory for striped bass applies only to the Upper and Lower Bays of New York Harbor and western Long Island Sound. These areas are presently closed to commercial fishing for striped bass, so no striped bass taken from these areas can enter the market legally.

Councilor McBride, a member of the work group, noted that there are legitimate commercial fishermen who were and remain ineligible for a special striped bass commercial harvest permit. In his view, these individuals should be given priority if additional tags are to be distributed.

Mr. Wise noted that the work group should be prepared to give the Council another progress report at the Council’s November 2001 meeting and perhaps a final report, if possible, at its January 2002 meeting.