FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 11, 2008 CONTACT: John DePersenaire jdepersenaire@joinrfa.org RELIEF ON THE WAY Congressman Pallone to Introduce Legislation to Provide Limited Flexibility in Healthy Fisheries   Seaside Heights, NJ --- Common sense legislation that will give relief to recreational anglers and the associated marine industry will be introduced by Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) on February 12, 2008.  Mr. Pallone, a senior member of the House Natural Resources Committee, will sponsor a bill which allows for limited flexibility in healthy fisheries on a positive rebuilding trend or where stocks have increased substantially.    The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act contains arbitrary and rigid rebuilding requirements.  While these provisions have spurred growth in many fisheries, at times they have unnecessarily restricted recreational anglers and have not been adaptive to the dynamic marine environment.   Top fisheries scientists and the Recreational Fishing Alliance (RFA) made this point during testimony at a congressional hearing in December 2007.  Mr. Pallone's language would give the Secretary of Commerce the discretion to adjust rebuilding timeframes only if specific criteria are present to ensure that the conservation of such stocks continues to advance.  Limited flexibility would allow fishermen to retain access to important fisheries such as summer flounder, red snapper, gag grouper, vermillion snapper and Pacific rockfish.    "When deciding how best to rebuild fish stocks in complex environments, we must use sound biology and science, not arbitrary deadlines set by Congress," Pallone said.  "The legislation I'm introducing in Congress is about rational rebuilding, and it is the best way to rebuild our fisheries without bankrupting tackle shops, party boats and commercial fishermen."   Anglers and recreational fishing businesses in the Mid-Atlantic involved with the summer flounder fishery have experienced firsthand the illogical nature of the current rebuilding requirements.  The 2008 summer flounder quota is the lowest since management began for this species yet the stock is at the highest level of abundance in history.  Under the current law, fishermen and the businesses they support are denied access to fisheries through lower quotas and eventual closures.  In cases such as summer flounder, the current management regime has produced results which are arbitrary, unfair and punitive.   "Based on the consistent cut in quotas in some fisheries and unattainable rebuilding goals in others, I am introducing legislation that will provide limited flexibility and will improve stock assessments by requiring more robust and thorough research," Pallone continued.   "Congressman Pallone's leadership is to be applauded for showing that it is possible to maintain conservation, continue to rebuild fish stocks and, at the same time, allow fishermen to access healthy fisheries,"  states Jim Donofrio, Executive Director of the RFA.  "We are committed to working with Congressman Pallone to convey this important message to his colleagues in Congress."   If you would no longer like to receive this press release, please visit http://www.joinrfa.org/Newsletter.htm to be removed from the list!

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Hearings/Comment on Coastal Sharks Management

The following is from a news release from the Atlantic States Marine
 Fisheries Commission:
States Schedule Hearings on Draft FMP for Atlantic Coastal Sharks
Public Comment Accepted Until March 28, 2008 Washington, DC - States and jurisdictions from Maine through Florida have scheduled their hearings to gather public comment on the Interstate Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Atlantic Coastal Sharks. The dates,
 times, and locations of the scheduled meetings follow:
New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife
March 4, 2008; 7:00 pm
Ocean County Administrative Building
101 Hooper Avenue, Room 119
Toms River, New Jersey
Contact: Peter Himchak (609)748-2020

The Draft FMP addresses the management of 39 shark species. It proposes  management measures for state recreational and commercial shark  fisheries, including permitted species,regions,seasons, quotas, possession  limits, size limits, protection of nursing and pupping grounds, authorized gear, dealer reporting, research, display, finning, and bycatch  reduction.

Coordinated state management is a vital step towards establishing
 healthy self-sustaining populations of Atlantic coastal sharks.  Many  species have been in a depleted state and are vulnerable to collapse if  fishing pressure continues as it has in recent years.  Most of these sharks  utilize state water coastal estuaries and bays as pupping grounds and  nurseries.  The Draft FMP proposes to protect depleted shark stocks  while they are in these areas during the most vulnerable stages of their  life cycles.

Another goal of Draft FMP is to establish complementary state and
 federal shark management.  Currently some states mirror federal regulations  for Atlantic sharks while other states have no management (other than  spiny dogfish) or have regulations inconsistent with the federal FMP.  Coordinating management between state and federal waters will close  loopholes between jurisdictions and simplify regulations for law enforcement  officials.

Fishermen and other interested groups are encouraged to provide input  on the Draft FMP, either by attending public hearings or providing  written comments.  Copies of the Draft FMP can be obtained via the  Commission's website at www.asmfc.org under Breaking News or by contacting the  Commission at (202) 289-6400.  Public comment will be accepted until  5:00 PM on March 28, 2008, and should be forwarded to Chris Vonderweidt,  Fisheries Management Plan Coordinator, 1444 Eye Street, NW, Sixth Floor,  Washington, DC 20005; (202) 289-6051 (FAX) or at comments@asmfc.org
 (Subject line: Sharks).  For more information, please contact Chris
 Vonderweidt at (202) 289-6400 or cvonderweidt@asmfc.org.
*************************
Tina Berger
Public Affairs Specialist
Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission
1444 I Street. NW, Sixth Floor
Washington, DC 20005
Phone: (202)289-6400
FAX: (202)289-6051
Email: tberger@asmfc.org
www.asmfc.org

ASMFC Vision: Healthy, self-sustaining populations of all Atlantic
 coast fish species or successful restoration well in progress by the year
 2015.
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Anglers participating in the NJ DEP Division of Fish and Wildlife's
 Striped Bass Bonus Program can now enter their voluntary angler logbook  data online instead of mailing in paper logs. This will enable faster and  easier data collection by division biologists, and provide an easier  and more efficient way for anglers to participate in this important  program.

The online voluntary angler logbook is available only to anglers
 participating in the Striped Bass Bonus Program. Logbook data entered online  will be received instantly by the Division of Fish and Wildlife,  enabling staff to analyze catch data more quickly and accurately. Anglers  will be able to access the site at their convenience to enter new data,  edit previous data or just review their records.

For more information and to access the online logbook visit
 http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/news/2008/strbasslog.htm on the
 division's Web site.
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