DarkSkies
09-16-2010, 12:57 PM
Sent in by Finchaser, thanks.
In addition to 'RFA' anglers in the Mid-Atlantic region have grown accustomed to the acronyms SSFFF & PMAFS in recent years; that's because the Save the Summer Flounder Fishery Fund and Partnership for Mid-Atlantic Fisheries Science respectively have contributed greatly to scientific improvements in the world of fisheries management, particularly with regard to important fisheries like summer flounder and sea bass. The following press releases from both SSFFF & PMAFS provide a good snapshot of what these groups have been up to, and how much has been accomplished through the unified efforts of the fishing, academic and legislative communities.
-----------------------------------------------
SAVE THE SUMMER FLOUNDER FISHERY FUND APPLAUDS INCREASE
Thanks Supporters, Acknowledges Fight Is Not Over
(09/14/2010) Faced with the almost certain prospect of closure - or as then National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Director Bill Hogarth, put it "...foregoing any 2009 recreational fishery" - the Save the Summer Flounder Fishery Fund (SSFFF) was founded three years ago with the singular mission of safeguarding and maintaining the public's access to the summer flounder fishery.
In the wake of the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's (MAFMC) most recent recommendation to increase the summer flounder quota for the third successive year, it is clearly apparent that SSFFF has been tremendously successful in living up to its original goals.
"The key to the recent quota increases has been the new information derived from independent science directly commissioned and funded by the SSFFF," said Greg Hueth, SSFFF Director. "This effort was enabled by the generosity of many contributors."
The hiring of internationally acclaimed fisheries biologist Dr. Mark Maunder, a specialist in stock assessment, brought to the summer flounder discussion the best available scientific information on models of the health of the summer flounder stock. The output of the models put forth by Dr. Maunder echoed the sentiments of literally every stakeholder involved in the fishery - that is, that the summer flounder stock was significantly further along its rebuilding timeline than previously estimated.
With the aid of the Recreational Fishing Alliance (RFA), Dr. Maunder's work was peer reviewed and accepted by NMFS as the best available science on summer flounder. Following the acceptance of Dr. Maunder's work, the summer flounder fishery was determined to be at nearly 75 percent of the pre-established stock-rebuilding target!
Instead of facing a complete closure of the 2009 recreational fishery, an overall increase in quota of near 20 percent was implemented, followed by another 20 percent increase for the 2010 season.
"The MAFMC's recent recommendation for a more than 30 percent increase in quota for 2011 will yield a net 87 percent increase in quota since 2009, a tremendous success in the face of a proposed complete recreational closure just 2 years ago," commented SSFFF Executive Committee member Capt. Tony Bogan, also of United Boatmen.
While many states in the Mid-Atlantic have had the opportunity to liberalize recreational fishing measures in recent years (longer seasons, smaller minimum sizes and/or increases in bag limit) thanks to the quota increases realized by the work of the SSFFF, New Jersey has not had the opportunity to do so. The reason for this has been the recreational landings estimation tool known as MRFSS, or the Marine Recreational Fishery Statistics Survey. The MRFSS data, labeled as "fatally flawed" after a 2004 Congressional review, was mandated to have been improved by January 1, 2009. Nearly 2 years later, the legally required improvements have yet to be implemented.
A recent independent review of MRFSS data performed by a leading statistical consulting company hired by the SSFFF indicates what fishermen have believed for a long time, that there is a significant bias toward overestimation of effort by recreational anglers from MRFSS. This conclusion is corroborated by other reports from state fisheries managers as well as the US Fish & Wildlife Service.
While recent quota increases have led to improved access to the summer flounder fishery in terms of less restrictive regulations, in many states there is much work still to be done to provide even better access for all recreational fishermen. Going forward, SSFFF is evaluating how best to combat these inequities on both the scientific and legislative battlegrounds.
"There is no one silver bullet to fix this problem, but rather the combined efforts of all must continue to be focused on multiple fronts," stated SSFFF Board of Directors member, Dave Arbeitman. "We must continue to lobby for better science, more accurate MRFSS data, and more equitable laws that manage our fisheries," Arbeitman added.
The SSFFF Board of Directors would like to thank every one of its contributors and supporters who have been so very generous over these past 3 years. Without the businesses, the organizations and the individuals from all parts of the country who tirelessly supported the SSFFF in the fight to safeguard access to the summer flounder fishery, our opportunity to enjoy this resource would have most certainly have been denied.
SSFFF has successfully carried out its mission of safeguarding summer flounder fishing access, not just for those who enjoy it, but also to ensure the survival of those who depend on it. For more information, visit www.ssfff.net (http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=hclmspcab&et=1103688020558&s=10015&e=001GUFdlJrpv8H5mC7cI-AAAB0Ok0gsY-U-bmSEPNBHsOBfDuW0eRyCUoAyJGsPD8EjyJW1xsAKLyqhvot81y V1d6YoxvLTqt2NzbB34GfSMnWL5XiMjNxeww==).
In addition to 'RFA' anglers in the Mid-Atlantic region have grown accustomed to the acronyms SSFFF & PMAFS in recent years; that's because the Save the Summer Flounder Fishery Fund and Partnership for Mid-Atlantic Fisheries Science respectively have contributed greatly to scientific improvements in the world of fisheries management, particularly with regard to important fisheries like summer flounder and sea bass. The following press releases from both SSFFF & PMAFS provide a good snapshot of what these groups have been up to, and how much has been accomplished through the unified efforts of the fishing, academic and legislative communities.
-----------------------------------------------
SAVE THE SUMMER FLOUNDER FISHERY FUND APPLAUDS INCREASE
Thanks Supporters, Acknowledges Fight Is Not Over
(09/14/2010) Faced with the almost certain prospect of closure - or as then National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Director Bill Hogarth, put it "...foregoing any 2009 recreational fishery" - the Save the Summer Flounder Fishery Fund (SSFFF) was founded three years ago with the singular mission of safeguarding and maintaining the public's access to the summer flounder fishery.
In the wake of the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's (MAFMC) most recent recommendation to increase the summer flounder quota for the third successive year, it is clearly apparent that SSFFF has been tremendously successful in living up to its original goals.
"The key to the recent quota increases has been the new information derived from independent science directly commissioned and funded by the SSFFF," said Greg Hueth, SSFFF Director. "This effort was enabled by the generosity of many contributors."
The hiring of internationally acclaimed fisheries biologist Dr. Mark Maunder, a specialist in stock assessment, brought to the summer flounder discussion the best available scientific information on models of the health of the summer flounder stock. The output of the models put forth by Dr. Maunder echoed the sentiments of literally every stakeholder involved in the fishery - that is, that the summer flounder stock was significantly further along its rebuilding timeline than previously estimated.
With the aid of the Recreational Fishing Alliance (RFA), Dr. Maunder's work was peer reviewed and accepted by NMFS as the best available science on summer flounder. Following the acceptance of Dr. Maunder's work, the summer flounder fishery was determined to be at nearly 75 percent of the pre-established stock-rebuilding target!
Instead of facing a complete closure of the 2009 recreational fishery, an overall increase in quota of near 20 percent was implemented, followed by another 20 percent increase for the 2010 season.
"The MAFMC's recent recommendation for a more than 30 percent increase in quota for 2011 will yield a net 87 percent increase in quota since 2009, a tremendous success in the face of a proposed complete recreational closure just 2 years ago," commented SSFFF Executive Committee member Capt. Tony Bogan, also of United Boatmen.
While many states in the Mid-Atlantic have had the opportunity to liberalize recreational fishing measures in recent years (longer seasons, smaller minimum sizes and/or increases in bag limit) thanks to the quota increases realized by the work of the SSFFF, New Jersey has not had the opportunity to do so. The reason for this has been the recreational landings estimation tool known as MRFSS, or the Marine Recreational Fishery Statistics Survey. The MRFSS data, labeled as "fatally flawed" after a 2004 Congressional review, was mandated to have been improved by January 1, 2009. Nearly 2 years later, the legally required improvements have yet to be implemented.
A recent independent review of MRFSS data performed by a leading statistical consulting company hired by the SSFFF indicates what fishermen have believed for a long time, that there is a significant bias toward overestimation of effort by recreational anglers from MRFSS. This conclusion is corroborated by other reports from state fisheries managers as well as the US Fish & Wildlife Service.
While recent quota increases have led to improved access to the summer flounder fishery in terms of less restrictive regulations, in many states there is much work still to be done to provide even better access for all recreational fishermen. Going forward, SSFFF is evaluating how best to combat these inequities on both the scientific and legislative battlegrounds.
"There is no one silver bullet to fix this problem, but rather the combined efforts of all must continue to be focused on multiple fronts," stated SSFFF Board of Directors member, Dave Arbeitman. "We must continue to lobby for better science, more accurate MRFSS data, and more equitable laws that manage our fisheries," Arbeitman added.
The SSFFF Board of Directors would like to thank every one of its contributors and supporters who have been so very generous over these past 3 years. Without the businesses, the organizations and the individuals from all parts of the country who tirelessly supported the SSFFF in the fight to safeguard access to the summer flounder fishery, our opportunity to enjoy this resource would have most certainly have been denied.
SSFFF has successfully carried out its mission of safeguarding summer flounder fishing access, not just for those who enjoy it, but also to ensure the survival of those who depend on it. For more information, visit www.ssfff.net (http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=hclmspcab&et=1103688020558&s=10015&e=001GUFdlJrpv8H5mC7cI-AAAB0Ok0gsY-U-bmSEPNBHsOBfDuW0eRyCUoAyJGsPD8EjyJW1xsAKLyqhvot81y V1d6YoxvLTqt2NzbB34GfSMnWL5XiMjNxeww==).