Tidal Fisheries Advisory Commission

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January 9, 2003 MEETING SUMMARY

Striped Bass

Status of emergency regulations: Emergency striped bass regulations were submitted to the Administrative Executive Legislative Review (AELR) on November 14, 2002. A hearing was requested on the regulatory proposal and was held on December 17, 2002.  The AELR approved the proposal; however, it was too late for the extension of the hook and line season to take effect. The remainder of the proposal affecting gill net times and quantity of net became effective on December 17th.

Fishery harvest updates by gear type: The Commission thanked the Department for working to get the fishery close to harvesting their quota.  The fishery was opened and closed twice in the month of December to try and reach, but not exceed, the quota. The 2002 Hook and Line fishery was 188,000+ under quota. Overall, 97% of the the annual commercial quota was attained.

Review and discussion of allocation by gear type: Mike Luisi presented the Commission with current participation and harvest rates in the striped bass fishery. The commercial quota is divided with 75% for the hook and line / gill net fishery and 25% allocated to the pound net fishery.  Seventy-six percent of the striped bass permitees are declared for hook and line and/or gill net fishery. In 2001, 92% of the declared striped bass pound net fisherman reported harvest, compared to 29% of hook and line declarees and 15% of gill net declarees reporting harvest. The pound net fisherman in attendance requested either being able to participate in an additional fishery or securing more than 25% of the quota for their fishery.  Most pound net fisherman in attendance requested an 850 lb./week catch limit rather than the seasonal catch limit that is currently in effect.  Additional data was presented on the average harvest per active fisherman.  The data by gear is as follows:

The Commission agreed to discuss this further at the next commission meeting.

ASMFC Amendment 6 update: Decisions made at the December Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) meeting in Rhode Island will allow Maryland to maintain close to status quo. Three options were presented on fishing mortality rates and ASMFC adopted the option closest to the rate at which we are fishing now.  In this amendment, the coastal commercial quota will be increased to restore the fishery to historic levels.

Oysters

Projected seasonal landings: The oyster population continues to suffer high mortality due to Dermo and MSX.  The average mortality for oysters in 2002 was 58%, which is the highest on record since 1985. For comparison, the annual mortality in the absence of disease is about 5% to 10%.  The high mortality rates are due to disease, not harvest.  The 2003 season is expected to yield less than 50,000 bushels. The spat set from the summers survey show mixed results.  State Seed Areas near Smith Island count over 1,000 per bushel; however, it is infected.  The set in the Choptank was very low and Eastern Bay had a low set.  Set in the upper bay and the Patuxent in 2002 was unusually high for those regions.  Upper bay oysters survive well but grow slowly, so market stocks should increase in the future but it will take at least four years.  Though, baywide, the spat set for 2003 was not strong. 

Power dredging initiative:  An emergency regulatory proposal is being drafted that will designate 5 additional areas where power dredges may be used. Additional areas are proposed in St. Mary’s County, Talbot County, Dorchester County, and Somerset County to complement already existing zones where power dredging for oysters is permitted.  The areas selected experience natural sets of oyster spat that can generate new populations of oysters, though this is variable year to year. Season, days, and times when power dredges may be used are already set out in regulation. The Commission would like to see additional zones throughout the Bay added in the future.  The areas have been selected through consultation with licensed oyster harvesters, community leaders and legislators.

Updates

Pound net certification: Members of the audience expressed concern that eliminating the certification process will “open the door” to new people that have not had to meet the same requirements as current pound net fisherman.  There was no opposition to “grandfathering in” current pound net fisherman at the 4 net level. 

Real-time dealer reporting:  The Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program (ACCSP) is a cooperative state-federal program to design, implement, and conduct marine fisheries statistics data collection programs and to integrate those data into a single data management system that will meet the needs of fishery managers, scientists, and fishermen. The ACCSP’s data management staff developed a reporting system, the Standard Atlantic Fisheries Information System (SAFIS) for the state of Rhode Island when they decided to have their seafood dealers report online in May of 2002. This is a web-based reporting system designed for fast, inexpensive, and easy reporting. Maryland DNR is now working with the ACCSP staff to modify SAFIS for their own reporting needs.  DNR and ACCSP will give a brief presentation on the system on Saturday, February 1^st at the Maryland Watermen’s Association (MWA) Annual Meeting at the Watermen’s Expo.  With a recent grant, the Department will be hiring an ACCSP Coordinator to work with the dealers, the Department and ACCSP on implementing this system.

MOTIONS

ACTIONS BY THE DEPARTMENT

To support the proposed power dredge regulatory package that included removing the minimum size on the dredge.

On January 15, 2003, the Department submitted a regulatory proposal to AELR that removed the minimum size on the dredge.

To start the Charterboat striped bass fishery on April 18^th instead of April 20^th.

No action.