Jan. 14, 2010
Vol. 40, No. 12

For more information, contact Craig Shirey, Fisheries, 302-739-9914, or Joanna Wilson, Public Affairs, 302-739-9902.

Proposed changes in weakfish regulations
to be topic of Jan. 21 public hearing

The DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife will hold a public hearing at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 21 in the DNREC auditorium, Richardson & Robbins Building, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, regarding a proposal to amend the state’s weakfish regulations. The changes would reduce the daily recreational creel limit from six fish to one fish, and would restrict all commercial vessels to a maximum harvest of 100 pounds per day.

A recent peer-reviewed stock assessment for weakfish by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission found the weakfish stock to be depleted and at all-time low levels. The decline in the weakfish stock reflects an increase after 1995 in natural mortality - death due to predation, competition and ecological factors – rather than fishing mortality, which has remained moderate and stable during the same time period.

Although fishing mortality is not the primary cause of the weakfish decline, it is further aggravated by losses to commercial and recreational fisheries. As a result, the proposed management measures are designed to discourage recreational and commercial fishing effort directed at weakfish, decrease by-catch mortality and reduce coastwide harvest by more than 50 percent.

Citizens may send written comments to Lisa Vest, Hearing Officer, DNREC Office of the Secretary, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901 or email to lisa.vest@state.de.us.