njdiver1
Contributor
Attention New Jersey Lobster Fishermen
No doubt, many of you have read newspaper articles or heard from another fisherman about the possibility of a 5 year moratorium being imposed on lobster fishing on the Southern New England (SNE) lobster stock by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC). The SNE lobster stock extends from Cape Cod to Cape Hatteras.
The most recent peer reviewed stock assessment on lobsters, which included all data through 2007, showed the SNE lobster stock to be overfished and called for a resource rebuilding program. Following the results of the peer reviewed stock assessment, the ASMFC American Lobster Technical Committee (TC), which includes representatives from all states participating in lobster fisheries, reviewed fishery dependent and independent data for 2008 and 2009 and concluded that as a result of recruitment failure in the SNE lobster stock, a 5 year moratorium is necessary to rebuild the SNE lobster stock. The TC presented this recommendation to the ASMFC American Lobster Management Board (Board) as the basis for developing an Addendum to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for American Lobster (FMP). The Board, which decides on appropriate management and monitoring measures to be implemented, is now in the process of evaluating the recommendation of the TC and deciding potential management options for rebuilding the SNE lobster stock.
The New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife will be conducting two outreach meetings this fall to inform all lobster fishermen on the background of the TCs recommendation for a 5 year moratorium, what the Board has done to date in light of this recommendation, what evaluations are on-going, the timetable for an Addendum to the FMP, and the formation of Lobster Conservation Management Teams (LCMT) for providing input on the Addendum. One outreach meeting will be held in the Shark River area to accommodate fishermen in Management Area 4 (see attached map), and the second outreach meeting will be held in the Cape May area to accommodate fishermen in Management Area 5. Fishermen from Management Area 3 should attend whichever meeting is more convenient for them.
This letter is being sent to all New Jersey Lobster Permittees, recreational lobster pot licensees and major SCUBA clubs. All of you are likely to be affected to some extent by the rebuilding program contained in the developing Addendum. Kindly call the Nacote Creek Research Station at 609-748-2020 and let us know which meeting you are likely to attend so that we may plan accordingly.
Sincerely,
Peter J. Himchak, Supervising Biologist
In response to this situation and Mr. Himchaks letter I have arranged for him to make a presentation at our November 17th meeting. All interested parties are welcome. If you need directions please notify our Secretary by email and you will receive our November reminder with map and directions.
Rather be diving,
Glenn A. Arthur
Chairman, NJCDC
NJ Council of Diving Clubs - Home page
No doubt, many of you have read newspaper articles or heard from another fisherman about the possibility of a 5 year moratorium being imposed on lobster fishing on the Southern New England (SNE) lobster stock by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC). The SNE lobster stock extends from Cape Cod to Cape Hatteras.
The most recent peer reviewed stock assessment on lobsters, which included all data through 2007, showed the SNE lobster stock to be overfished and called for a resource rebuilding program. Following the results of the peer reviewed stock assessment, the ASMFC American Lobster Technical Committee (TC), which includes representatives from all states participating in lobster fisheries, reviewed fishery dependent and independent data for 2008 and 2009 and concluded that as a result of recruitment failure in the SNE lobster stock, a 5 year moratorium is necessary to rebuild the SNE lobster stock. The TC presented this recommendation to the ASMFC American Lobster Management Board (Board) as the basis for developing an Addendum to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for American Lobster (FMP). The Board, which decides on appropriate management and monitoring measures to be implemented, is now in the process of evaluating the recommendation of the TC and deciding potential management options for rebuilding the SNE lobster stock.
The New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife will be conducting two outreach meetings this fall to inform all lobster fishermen on the background of the TCs recommendation for a 5 year moratorium, what the Board has done to date in light of this recommendation, what evaluations are on-going, the timetable for an Addendum to the FMP, and the formation of Lobster Conservation Management Teams (LCMT) for providing input on the Addendum. One outreach meeting will be held in the Shark River area to accommodate fishermen in Management Area 4 (see attached map), and the second outreach meeting will be held in the Cape May area to accommodate fishermen in Management Area 5. Fishermen from Management Area 3 should attend whichever meeting is more convenient for them.
This letter is being sent to all New Jersey Lobster Permittees, recreational lobster pot licensees and major SCUBA clubs. All of you are likely to be affected to some extent by the rebuilding program contained in the developing Addendum. Kindly call the Nacote Creek Research Station at 609-748-2020 and let us know which meeting you are likely to attend so that we may plan accordingly.
Sincerely,
Peter J. Himchak, Supervising Biologist
In response to this situation and Mr. Himchaks letter I have arranged for him to make a presentation at our November 17th meeting. All interested parties are welcome. If you need directions please notify our Secretary by email and you will receive our November reminder with map and directions.
Rather be diving,
Glenn A. Arthur
Chairman, NJCDC
NJ Council of Diving Clubs - Home page
