Letter to Representatives of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission - Securing Fairness Between States
Letter
Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission
C/O Robert Beal, Executive Director
1050 N. Highland Street, Suite 200A-N
Arlington, VA 22201
RE: Draft Addendum XXV
Dear Representatives of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission,
Over the past decade, I have worked with the Commission, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and other stakeholders regarding the inequities plaguing the hardworking men and women of New York's commercial and recreational summer flounder industry. Since my last correspondence dated February 19, 2013, I have arranged a congressional hearing in the U.S. Senate on this issue and introduced legislation, the Fluke Fairness Act of 2013, that would require the Commission and the Mid-Atlantic Fisheries Management Council (MAFMC) to work together to amend the summer flounder management plan using the best science and data available. I have also worked with the Commission and Council leadership and our New York State representatives to enact changes through the Addendum process. Therefore, I am encouraged that the Commission is considering Draft Addendum XXV after many years of pressure from my office, colleagues and constituents.
For summer flounder, the Draft Addendum proposes options that allow for management measures by region, a cause I have long championed that will insert equity, fairness and good science back into summer flounder management. According to the Addendum, the specific regions being considered are (1) Massachusetts; Rhode Island through New Jersey; Delaware through Virginia; and North Carolina and (2) Massachusetts and Rhode Island; Connecticut through New Jersey; Delaware through Virginia; and North Carolina. Either of these regional options would be a historic breakthrough in the decades-long stalemate that has plagued New York's recreational summer flounder industry. For the first time in years, New York fishermen would have parity with their neighboring states with a size limit of 18 inches and a bag limit of 4 fish. I strongly support these approaches and urge the Commission to approve one of them. If the Commission refuses to approve one of these options, then the only fair alternative is to go back to a full Coastwide allocation system. Under no circumstances should the Commission allow summer flounder management to remain on the status quo state-by-state plan.
According to the Commission, the Draft Addendum was "initiated to address a growing concern that current summer flounder management measures are not providing recreational fishermen along the coast with equitable harvest opportunities to the resource." On behalf of hundreds of thousands of recreational fishermen and charter boat captains, I can tell you that the State of New York wholeheartedly agrees and urges you to adopt regional management measures for the 2014 recreational summer flounder fishery.
Please feel free to reach out to Gerry Petrella of my Washington staff at 202-224-6542 with any questions.
Sincerely,
Charles E. Schumer
U.S. Senator
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