DNREC to hold public hearings on summer flounder,
black sea bass management plans on March 24

DOVER (March 18, 2011) – The DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife will hold back-to-back public hearings beginning at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 24 in the DNREC auditorium, Richardson & Robbins Building, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, regarding proposed amendments to Tidal Finfish Regulations concerning summer flounder and black sea bass.

The first hearing will deal with the recreational summer flounder fishery. In a joint meeting in December, the Summer Flounder Fishery Management Board, the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council and the National Marine Fisheries Service agreed that the states would implement conservation equivalent measures rather than a coastwide management program for summer flounder in 2011.

Based on the latest scientific data that the stock is not overfished, the total allowable harvest quota has been increased from the 80,000 target in 2010 to 107,000 fish in 2011. An estimated 76,000 summer flounder were harvested in Delaware during the 2010 fishing season.

Two options designed to restrain the harvest at or below the harvest cap will be considered at the public hearing:

• Option A: Minimum total length 18.5 inches, 4 fish creel limit, no closed season
• Option B: Minimum total length 18 inches, 4 fish creel limit, closed season from Oct. 24-Dec. 31

The second hearing, immediately following the summer flounder hearing, will concern a proposed amendment to the Tidal Finfish Regulations on black sea bass. The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Management Board for Black Sea Bass is developing an addendum to the Interstate Fisheries Management Plan with management strategies to reduce recreational harvest to prevent overfishing by setting seasons, minimum size limits and creel limits. Specific management measures will be defined and available for public comment by the time of the public hearing. 

Email comments for either of the public hearings may be sent to Lisa Vest, Hearing Officer, at lisa.vest@state.de.us. The record will remain open for written or emailed comments until 4:30 p.m., Thursday, March 31.

Questions and comments also may be addressed to the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901, or call Fisheries at 302-739-9914.

Vol. 41, No. 100