Tidal Fisheries Advisory Commission

Summary of Motions & Actions

Agenda:

September 5, 2002 MEETING SUMMARY

Oysters- Harvest, disease, and shell dredging topics were presented for discussion.

  • The oyster harvest for the past few years has declined from 423,219 bushels in 1999 to 148,155 bushels in 2002 due to increasing disease mortality.
  • Disease samples from the Choptank River this summer indicate 100% of the population on the bars sampled were infected and that these infections were severe (mortality is imminent). Fall Survey samples will determine if this trend exists throughout the Bay and the rest of the Choptank. It is expected that the oyster population will suffer another year of high mortality, lowering stocks and harvest.
  • Two shell dredging applications are being drafted by DNR to provide shells for the oyster programs of DNR, the Corps of Engineers, ORP, CBF, EPA and other groups. One site is Man-O-War Shoals at the mouth of the Patapsco River and the other is Plum Point, in the striped bass spawning reach above Pooles Island. Plum Point is preferred by many groups but it may be a problem due to it being in the striped bass spawning reach. Man-O-War Shoals has more shells than Plum Point, but it is controversial based on comments from oystermen and fishermen. The proposal is to dredge 50% of Plum Point, but only a limited amount of Man-O-War Shoals (10%). Man-O-War Shoals dredging would be restricted to about 4 cuts and limited to the perimeter. Dredging will not cut through the shoal. Once a final application is submitted, there will be a public comment period.

Striped Bass - Amendment 6- The Goal of Amendment 6 is: “To perpetuate, through cooperative interstate fishery management, migratory stocks of striped bass to allow commercial and recreational fisheries consistent with the long-term maintenance of a broad age structure, a self-sustaining spawning stock and also provide for the restoration and maintenance of their essential habitat.” A September 10th ADHOC meeting is scheduled to discuss the options available in meeting the goal of Amendment 6. Public meetings have been scheduled for October 1st and October 10th to discuss Draft Amendment 6 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Striped Bass.

Striped Bass- Commercial Harvest (Added to the Agenda)- 2002 Striped bass harvest data (through September 4th) from daily checkstation calls indicates that 60% of the 2002 commercial quota has been harvested. The pound net and hook & line fisheries have 3 months remaining in their season with a combined 647,509 pounds remaining in their quota. Harvest in both fisheries is lower than in recent years. An additional per net allocation to the pound net fishery will be reviewed later this month when more harvest data is available. Any remaining quota from these fisheries will be transferred to the December gill net fishery. The Commission requested that the Department consider increasing gill net opportunities for the December fishery, including permitting more net on board and/or nighttime fishing.

Tautog (Added to the Agenda)- A presentation on the Coastal Tautog Assessment, Management Framework, and Options for Maryland's Recreational Fishery was given by DNR biologist, Paul Piavis. An analysis of tautog data concludes that the stock is overfished and at low levels of spawning stock biomass. Addendum III to the management plan proposes five options on how a reduction of 29% in fishing mortality will be accomplished by April 1, 2003. Ninety percent of the harvest is from the recreational fishery; therefore, the reductions will apply to recreational fishery only. However, commercial regulations can not be relaxed. Overall, TFAC felt these were recreational issues and only impacted the commercial hook and line and charter boat segment. The Commission recommended Option 2, a December closure which maintains the 5 fish bag limit.

Red Drum (Added to the Agenda)- A presentation on Maryland's Regulatory Options for the Recreational Red Drum Fishery was given by DNR biologist, Paul Piavis. Amendment 2 to the red drum plan proposes to additional steps for rebuilding the red drum population. Proposed measures include more restrictive bag and size limits for recreational and charterboat fishermen, a coastwide 27-inch total length (TL) or less maximum size limit and a payback provision for any commercial fisheries that exceed their current landings cap. In addition, Amendment 2 proposes that states outside the management unit (New York through Maine) implement complementary measures to protect the red drum resource. Five options are available to reduce fishing mortality in the Maryland recreational fishery for red drum. The Commission recommended Option 2, the 18" - 25" slot limit for the red drum fishery (which also maintains the 5 fish bag limit), but to include 1 fish/boat greater than 25".

Crab Landings Data (Added to the Agenda)- Charts comparing dealer reporting and waterman harvest reporting for commercial blue crabs were presented to the committee. For 2001, which was the first year of mandatory dealer reporting, dealer and watermens harvest reports were very close (never more than 5% different) for hard crabs. Buyers reported slightly higher landings of hard crabs in May and June whereas watermen reported slightly higher landings in July through October. For peeler and soft crabs, dealers and watermens reports were significantly different, with watermen reporting an average of 60% higher peeler/soft crab landings than dealers in all months. We will repeat the analysis for 2002, to see if results are consistent from year to year.

Review of Pending Regulations (Added to the Agenda)- The following regulatory proposals were discussed:

  • Flounder Hook & Line Minimum Size same as Recreational- Public comment period ends: 09/09/02. Effective: 10/14/02.
  • Crab Scrapes/Recreational Times/Tolerance Limits- Public comment period ends: 09/23/02. Effective: 10/28/02.
  • Implement Hard Clam Plan (Emergency) Effective: 9/15/02
    Implement Hard Clam Plan (Permanent) Public comment period ends: 12/02/02. Effective: 1/06/02.

MOTIONS

ACTIONS BY THE DEPARTMENT
Recommend a December closure for the tautog fishery (which maintains the 5 fish bag limit). No action.

Recommend the 18" - 25" slot limit for the red drum fishery (which also maintains the 5 fish bag limit), but allow 1 fish/boat greater than 25".

No action.

Want the commercial crab scrape regulation amended to allow crab scrapes in the proposed prohibited area, but set a minimum distance from a trotline, prohibit hydraulics and set a weight limit on scrapes in the proposed area.

No action.

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