Tidal Fisheries Advisory Commission

Summary of Motions & Actions

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Agenda:

December 4, 2003 MEETING SUMMARY

Summary of Gear Definition Workgroup- Without clear definitions of gear, enforcement problems and conflicts between fisherman have developed. At the last meeting, the Commission recommended that a workgroup be formed to develop gear definitions. The workgroup was formed to provide recommendations to the Department for commercial gear definitions for haul seines, pound nets and fyke nets. The group, consisting of Fisheries Service staff a NRP representative and 7 commercial watermen, met on November 17, 2003. The group recommended to the Department specific criteria for each of the gear types that would help distinguish it from other commercial fishing gear. The group also made recommendations in regards to a proposal for the harvest of crabs from these gear types.
The Commission heard the recommendations and more comments from attendees. The Commission altered the workgroup's recommendation by removing the minimum mesh size requirement on pound nets and fyke nets. The Commission asked that catfish pots be included in the legal gear types to harvest crabs, and a motion was passed to raise the workgroup's recommended 1 bushel crab limit to 2 bushels while using the defined commercial gear.

Regulation Update Two emergency proposals will be submitted:
Spiny Dogfish proposal will allow the Department to open State waters to the harvest of spiny dogfish while federal waters are closed. Current regulations do not provide for this action. A specific State-waters quota is available for harvest through April 2004. Federal waters are closed, this proposal will provide for the fishermen to harvest the quota while federal waters are closed.
Black Sea Bass proposal will establish an individual fishing quota system for black sea bass permittees. The system will be in place for the 2004 fishing season.

The following regular permanent proposals are also pending:
The Striped Bass proposal will start the spring season on the 3rd Saturday in April every year and expand the open fishing areas in the rivers for the period May16-31.
A proposal that will establish the dividing lines between the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries will also be submitted. This proposal closely mirrors current lines (oyster or crab) that are used by enforcement. Maps of the lines were provided to the Commission.
A restriction on the type of bait permitted during the striped bass catch and release fishery and in the spawning rivers will be proposed. The Commission made a motion that the Department not try to regulate bait.
A proposal that defines pound net, fyke net and haul seine gear will be proposed after considering the recommendations of the Commission and the Workgroup.
A proposal that provided for the harvest of Crabs from specific commercial finfish gear will be made after considering the recommendations of the Commission and the Workgroup.

Crab Appeals Review- The Commission reviewed two crab appeals for federal assistance. Because the appeal deadline has passed, the Commission made a motion to stop hearing crab appeals.

Update Striped Bass Landings for Pound Nets and Hook and Line- Mike Luisi handed out a landings chart for the 2003 striped bass calendar year quota. Data through 12/3/03 that the hook and line fishery has 44,523 pounds of unused quota. The pound net fishery has not concluded, but as of this date 105,497 pounds of quota is available. Quota that is not harvested by the other gear types rolls into the December gill net quota. As of 12/3/03, 394,110 pounds of striped bass quota is available for the December gill net fishery.

Artificial Reefs Siting Program The Department had a reef program form the 1960's through 1996. At that time the program moved to Maryland Environmental Service and the Ocean City Reef Foundation. There are currently 20 permitted artificial reef sites. Artificial reefs are believed to enhance benthic communities and fishing opportunities. A significant amount of reef material has recently become available. A review of the best place for the material is underway as well as the development of a long term approach to determining artificial reef sites.

Other Business
The Commission would like to see stricter enforcement on the people that do not send in their fishing/crabbing reports.
A commercial waterman approached the Commission with a recommendation to raise the size requirement on a razor clam chain from 1" x ½" to 1' x 1" because the smaller chain allows too many small clams to be caught. There is not a good market for these smaller razor clams and he would like to see them grow up to be harvested. The Commission recommended forming a Razor Clam Workgroup to discuss the issue.

MOTIONS

ACTIONS BY THE DEPARTMENT
To raise the gear workgroup's recommendation of a 1 bushel crab limit to 2 bushels. Implemented by regulation.
The Commission made a motion that the Department not try to regulate bait. No Action.
The Commission made a motion to stop hearing crab appeals No Action Required.

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