Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Amendment 4 Southern Flounder topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commission votes to send flounder allocation amendment for public review, advancing 50/50 allocation option
Summary
The commission voted 5‑4 to send Amendment 4 for public and advisory‑committee review, a short‑term amendment that would expedite the sector allocation shift toward 50/50 in 2025 to increase recreational access while maintaining rebuilding targets.
The Marine Fisheries Commission voted 5‑4 to send Amendment 4 of the Southern Flounder Fishery Management Plan for public comment and advisory‑committee review, advancing a short‑term option to expedite the sector allocation transition to 50% commercial / 50% recreational in 2025.
Jeffrey Dobbs, FMP coordinator, said the amendment was developed to respond to a commission motion to allow more recreational access while maintaining the rebuilding requirements from Amendment 3. He reiterated that Amendment 3 set a 72% reduction target and a quota (548,034 pounds TAC) divided between sectors; the expedited 50/50 option would transfer quota from the commercial mobile gear allocation to recreational allocation while keeping pound‑net allocation constant. Dobbs cautioned that shifting the allocation does not increase the resource — “the pie is the same size, you are just adjusting the slices.” He projected that the expedited shift would add roughly 106,470 pounds to the recreational allocation in 2025 but would likely still yield only a brief recreational season (about 2–4 weeks) because of discard and catch dynamics.
Holly White, Southern Flounder co‑lead, presented preliminary 2024 monitoring data showing commercial quota monitoring reports exceeded adjusted total allowable landings by approximately 6,000 pounds; she warned that inclusion of dead discards could cause paybacks to be required in 2025 once trip‑ticket and MRIP data are reconciled.
Commissioners debated fairness to the commercial sector, enforcement and data gaps, and whether a short‑term reallocation addresses underlying discard and data issues. After discussion, the roll call recorded a 5‑4 vote to send Amendment 4 forward for public and advisory committee review.
What happens next: The division will solicit public comment and AC feedback during the scoping and review period; staff said a more comprehensive Amendment 5 is already in scoping and will consider long‑term solutions for recreational access.
