Flounder limits are decreased

By now the word has gotten around that at Monday's Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission meeting things did not go too well for the summer flounder fisherman in New Jersey. This year the allowable take was 23.6 million pounds, but the ASMFC knocked it down to 17.1 million pounds in 2007.

All this despite the protests of many fishermen, both commercial and recreational, that appeared at the New York meeting. Prior to that both houses of Congress in Washington had voted for an extension of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery and Conservation Act that does extend this act for three more years, giving the flounder rebuilding process another three years to help rebuild the stocks.... "

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Without this act the restrictions would have been even more severe. Tom Fote, of the New Jersey Anglers Association, tells me that Congressmen Jim Saxton, Frank Pallone, Frank LoBiondo and Senators Frank Lautenberg and Robert Mendendez were very helpful in getting this bill passed.

Fote also related that this 6 million pound reduction from last year would translate into a 42 percent less take for the recreational fishermen and that it would be disastrous for the New Jersey fishing business. He also noted that, while the ASNFC is bleeding the recreational anglers, it has not seen one cent reduction in its members paychecks.

How will this reduction affect the fishermen's take in 2007? Fote guesses that we will see a slight reduction in the bag limit as well as a size limit that will probably go the 17 inches or more. In addition the season could be shortened.

I would like to give credit to some who attended Monday's meeting. Congressman Pallone stood with the recreational fisherman and spoke in their behalf. In addition, two Fortescue fisherman, Lou Arangio and John O'Brien, left home at 5:30 Monday morning to drive to Forked River, where they boarded a bus loaded with fishermen from that area, as they rode to New York. Our hats go off to those two folks who had the gumption to take this much interest in their fishing future.

Arangio had this to say about the meeting and the lack of interest shown by area fisherman, "They better get off their duffs and attend these meetings. It's their livelihood but they just don't seem to care!"

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