NEWS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL
March 14, 2007
Vol. 38, No. 97
For more information, contact Richard Cole, 302-739-4782 or Roy Miller, 302-739-9914, Fisheries, or Joanna C. Wilson, Public Affairs, 302-739-9902.
Proposed Amendments to Summer Flounder Regulations to Be Topic of March 27 Public Hearing
The DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife will hold a public hearing at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 27 in the DNREC auditorium, Richardson & Robbins Building, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, regarding proposed amendments to the Tidal Finfish Regulations concerning summer flounder.
Under the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s summer flounder management plan, Delaware is obligated to cap its summer flounder recreational harvest at 64,000 fish for 2008. The allowable harvest cap represents a 41.3 percent reduction from last year’s level of estimated harvest because of slower than projected rebuilding in the stock.
A suite of five management options will be presented, including potential minimum size limits ranging between 18.5 and 19.5 inches in combination with various creel limits that range from one to four fish per day, some of which also incorporate seasonal closures. Public comment received at this meeting will become part of the public hearing record and help guide the Department’s decision making process pertaining to final regulations for the 2008 fishing season.
Citizens may address comments in writing to the Fisheries Section, Division of Fish and Wildlife, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901, or request additional information by contacting Fisheries at 302-739-9914. Email comments may be sent to lisa.vest@state.de.us, richard.cole@state.de.us or roy.miller@state.de.us.
The record will remain open for written or email comments until 4:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 2, 2008.
