Mr. Colvin presented the new ASFMC commercial harvest quotas for the year 2000 for summer flounder, scup, black sea bass and bluefish. He noted that the @ 35 million lb. bluefish quota is the first enforceable quota for this species. The summer flounder (fluke) quota is 18.5 million lb., but if a "constant harvest" strategy amendment is approved by the National Marine Fisheries Service, the quota may be adjusted to perhaps 20 million lb. There are no changes in fluke size limits for the Year 2000. The specific measures for recreational fishing will be published at the end of the year after the harvest data is in. It was observed that little time remains before the deadline for regulations to implement the bluefish quota. Mr. Colvin agreed and requested input from affected parties. There has been a bluefish quota in place for some time, but until now it was not enforceable. New York exceeded the quota repeatedly over the past few years. If it is exceeded again this year, the overage will be deducted from the following year’s quota.

The plans have a provision allowing transfers of quota between states; this has been done in the past with fluke and is being attempted now with scup. The authority to give and accept transfers will be in the regulations. Chairman Wise asked if enough scup quota was going to be transferred to New York from other states to avoid paying a penalty in 2000 for 1999 over-quota harvests. Mr. Colvin said that the DEC had initially hoped to receive enough scup quota from New Jersey and Rhode Island to cover the 22,000 lb. overage in 1999 and perhaps even allow a limited reopening late this year. However, Rhode Island also exceeded its quota. All of the states, including New York, agreed to a 2% adjustment of scup quota, with the amount saved going to Massachusetts, which provided convincing evidence that the landings data used to initially allocate the scup quota between states underreported the actual catch of this species by Massachusetts fishermen. New York may try to do the same thing now by proving to NMFS that its historical landings of fluke were underreported. Mr. Colvin continued that it was still uncertain how the summer quota for scup was going to be managed next year because the federal government lost its enforcement law suit. The Mid-Atlantic States may resubmit state quotas for the summer period, or the ASMFC may allow the federal government to act coast wide, as was done with sea bass.

It was noted that, despite larger minimum size limits, fluke landings were still too large, suggesting the biomass of this species had significantly rebuilt. Mr. Mason of DEC reported that the fluke biomass was indeed improving. Under the constant harvest strategy, it is expected that by 2006 the term "overfished" will no longer apply to this species. It is not yet known how the 1999 coastwide recreational harvest of fluke compares with the 1999 recreational targets. Mr. Colvin added that the fluke biomass was growing, the age distribution was good, mortality rate was dropping, but recruitment was still only weak to fair. Mr. Colvin categorized the proposed 2.5 million lb. scup quota as lower than last year. John Mason said there was as yet no approval from NMFS on that management plan. They have other options, including a measure, recommended by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, to close substantial areas to small mesh.

Mr. Gordon stated that federal regulations provide no flexibility on summer season dates for scup and sea bass, although a state could delay the opening by setting trip limits of zero. A separate meeting might be scheduled about the scup summer period, but only after it became clear whether control would be allowed. Several fishermen suggested that trip limits should be decreased as landings approach the quota, so that hook and line commercial fishermen could continue to participate. Mr. Colvin responded that the DEC would continue to advocate that. Several fishermen asked what the trip limits for these species might be in 2000. Mr. Colvin said that trip limits could not be discussed until after the quotas were set, and he asked for additional input on fluke, bluefish and scup. He noted that, if a scup quota would be given to the DEC to manage this summer, the season would open May 1 with a very low trip limit (50-100 lb.) to avoid an early closing. Chairman Wise stated that specific proposals were needed on dealing with bluefish quota. Parties interested in bluefish were urged to sign up for special meeting(s) on this topic.