Industry leaders announce plan to address summer flounder fishery issues


April 30, 2008, Alexandria, Va. ??? The American Sportfishing Association (ASA) is recommending a six-point plan of action to maintain summer flounder fishing along the mid-Atlantic coast. Industry leaders and angler groups are concerned about a threatened closing of the summer flounder fishery in 2009 in federal waters (three miles to 200 miles offshore) by federal fishery managers.

"This fishery is one of the most important sportfish on the U.S. Atlantic coast," said ASA Vice President Gordon Robertson. "Clearly such an action would reduce recreational fishing opportunity and have a negative impact on the sportfishing businesses which depend on summer flounder. The irony of this threat is that summer flounder stocks in the Atlantic are at a 40 year high."

The six-point plan was approved by the ASA Government Affairs Committee at its April meeting in California. "ASA has been concerned about the summer flounder fishery for quite some time," said Bill Shedd, ASA Government Affairs Committee chairman and President of AFTCO Manufacturing Co., Inc. "Like most complicated issues, there is no one answer and there is no quick fix for challenges facing the summer flounder fishery. But we believe these steps will go a long way towards keeping the 2009 season open."

The six action items are:
* Encourage the states, through their management measures of season length, creel limits and size limits, to stay within the recreational allocation, allowing the summer flounder fishing to continue.
* Request that the federal government conduct an economic impact study of the recreational and commercial sectors of the summer flounder fishery and reallocate the fishery more equitably between the recreational and commercial sectors. The current allocation is 60 percent commercial and 40 percent recreational.
* Request that the National Marine Fisheries Service improve its recreational angler participation data. Congress has recognized that dependable angler participation data is a key factor in fishery management decisions and needs to be improved. In addition, every effort should be taken by state authorities to improve their marine recreational angler participation data.
* Take measures to accurately determine the target biomass for summer flounder and improve the science review of the summer flounder stock assessment scheduled for summer 2008.
* Request that the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council follow the advice provided by its Science and Statistical Committee.
* After an economic impact study of the recreational and commercial sectors, begin discussions among fishery groups for Congressional action seeking a buy-out of available summer flounder commercial fisheries.

Saltwater Subcommittee Chairman, Ben Moore, vice president, Boater's World, said, "We chose these actions because they are all areas that the industry and angler groups can take action on now and expect a reasonable chance for success. The committee reviewed a wide range of actions, including legislation, but found that these six points were the most effective and most likely to succeed." Moore further said, "We encourage industry members and angler groups to work with ASA in a coordinated and collaborative way to implement these points. We can accomplish a great deal much more quickly when we work together."

ASA has been working with the Save the Summer Flounder Fishing Fund, located in New Jersey, to raise funds for additional review of scientific data used to set summer flounder fishing seasons.

Phil Morlock, Government Affairs Committee member and Environmental Affairs director at Shimano, said, "The committee members are very aware of the significant negative economic impacts for the fishing tackle industry and related businesses if the summer flounder issue is not addressed in a timely and comprehensive manner. To be successful, ASA's action plan will require the full cooperation and sustained active involvement of every manufacturer, retailer, sales agency and the anglers who are our customers. We remain convinced that a rational and responsible solution is possible by this approach. Anything less is simply unacceptable."

"The Government Affairs Committee had a thoughtful and thorough discussion concerning this issue," said Robertson. "Today's challenges include summer flounder, red snapper and grouper, but other fish stocks will challenge managers in future years. We must continue to review the implementation of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation Act and identify problem areas. As these areas are identified, we must work cooperatively for effective solutions."