DEC to Halt Recreational Fluke Season Monday
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FRIDAY, 31 AUGUST 2007
Citing overfishing, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Pete Grannis announced today the closure of the summer flounder (fluke) season effective Monday, Sept. 17.
Preliminary data indicates New York has likely already exceeded its 2007 recreational fishing quota for summer flounder, set by federal mandates. If the state allows the season to remain open through the end of the year, as scheduled, it could trigger harsher regulations next year, the commissioner said.
"We know recreational fishermen and charter captains typically fish fluke into October. But if we do not shut down now, we risk greatly exceeding our quota and forcing a further clampdown on these businesses and anglers next year," Grannis said.
The shutdown does not apply to commercial fishing.
The original target date for shutdown was Sept. 4. However, Grannis decided to move the date back to provide for an orderly shutdown of the season. "We are mindful of industry concerns, including pre-booked charters and bait expenditures. So we decided to add two additional weekends" Grannis said.
Earlier this year, DEC – with input from the recreational fishing industry – increased the minimum size for taking fluke, from 18 inches to 19.5 inches, and maintained a four-fish-per-day cap. This was done largely to try to meet stricter federal limits on recreational fluke fishing. New York's fluke quota for 2007 was lowered to 430,000 from 650,000 in 2006.
Data from the Marine Recreational Fishing Statistics Survey show that approximately 357,000 summer flounder had been taken in New York by the end of June. Data for July and August will not be available until mid-September; but based on patterns from previous years, DEC's Marine Resources Division estimates New York has already harvested more than its quota.
Read more about this news at www.readmedia.com.
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