Chairman Wise reminded the Council that, in 2002, it had constituted a subcommittee chaired by Councilor Freierman and charged the subcommittee with coming up with recommendations for 1) the circumstances under which the number of special commercial harvest permits for fluke and striped bass would be allowed to increase and 2) when those circumstances exist, what procedures the Department should use to issue any new permits.  The subcommittee prepared a report, which the Council reviewed; the report was modified at the Council’s request and a final report submitted to and accepted by the Council in 2003.  Mr. Wise stated that Mr. Colvin had requested that issues regarding allocation of the State’s commercial fluke quota and the number and distribution of fluke special commercial harvest permit had recently arisen and he wanted to brief the Council on them.

Mr. Colvin told the Council that ASMFC has adopted Addendum 15 to the Summer Flounder Fishery Management Plan, which sets out a process by which a portion of the increased coast-wide commercial fluke annual quota for 2005 and 2006 is reallocated from the four states with the largest annual commercial fluke quotas to the other states.  This reallocation is predicated on those states making improvements in documenting and reducing discards in their fluke fisheries.  Under the quota reallocation formula, New York is expected to receive an additional 50,000 lbs. of fluke quota in both 2005 and 2006.  To receive this additional quota, New York must notify ASMFC of specific steps it will take to address by-catch in its commercial fluke fisheries.   New York’s proposals of discard will be presented to the Commissions Fluke Management Board and the other states in early February.  Mr. Colvin solicited advice from the Council on what proposals it thought the State should make.  One fact that has always confounded discussion about the redistribution of commercial fluke quota to New York is that New York has more commercial fluke permits than any other state.  Thus, one suggestion made is that DEC implement a re-qualification process for the special fluke commercial harvest permit, which might result in fewer such permits being issued through the retirement of inactive permits.  This would be a preventive measure to reduce discards, which would likely rise if permit-holders who have not used their permit in the past decided to do so.  Councilor Davi expressed reservations about an approach that would force fishermen to use their permits or lose them.

Another approach that has been suggested to DEC in the past as a potential tool against discards is to institute weekly, rather than daily trip limits in the commercial fluke fishery.   Mr. Colvin stated that both the re-qualification and institution of weekly harvest limits would be part of the general marine fishery rule-making package now being prepared by DEC.  He expects these proposals to attract considerable interest and comment during the public comment period on the rule-making.    

A third possible approach mentioned by Mr. Colvin was to manage/distribute the additional 50,000 lbs. of fluke quota separately from the rest of New York’s commercial fluke quota.  For example, fluke permit-holders who enrolled in a special program might be allowed to exceed the daily trip limits to a certain degree in exchange for the provision of detailed catch and discard data. 

Mr. Colvin stated that he wanted New York to undertake more sea sampling (vessel observers) in the fluke fishery.  The Department has funds for this purpose, but the design of such a program needs to be worked out with the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS).  He will provide information to the Council on the proposal that DEC has made to NMFS.  Councilor Freierman stated that funds from NMFS’s research set-aside program might also be sought to fund a New York observer program.

Councilor Freierman reminded the Council that the earlier report of her subcommittee on fluke and striped bass special commercial harvest permits recommended setting a control date for fluke landings and requiring that a fluke permit to have been renewed in 5 of the 7 years to qualify for re-issuance.  Mr. Wise reminded the Council that it had accepted these recommendations.

Messrs. Colvin and Wise suggested that the Council’s subcommittee on special commercial striped bass and fluke permits be reactivated to come up with a proposal for permit re-qualification in the commercial fluke fishery and approaches to reduce discards in that fishery.    Ms. Freierman agreed.  The original subcommittee membership was Councilors Freierman (chair), McBride, Melton, and Jordan.  Mr. Melton stated he did not wish to remain on the reactivated subcommittee.  Councilor John (Sandy) Mason will be asked to join the subcommittee.  Mr. Wise asked the subcommittee to try to meet once or twice before the next Council meeting, in March 2005, and come up with recommended particulars of a re-qualification process and criteria.

Councilor Danielson reminded Mr. Wise that the Council had asked him to send a letter to the State Legislature requesting more General Fund monies for DEC’s marine programs.  Mr. Wise responded that the Council had agreed that marine resource enforcement needs were to be incorporated into the list of general marine resource program needs that formed the basis of this request.  He would try to schedule a meeting with the Division of Law Enforcement in the near future.

 

Page last modified Thursday, March 17, 2005 by George E. Carroll