Saltwater Fishing News
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- Published: Wednesday, 14 February 2007 14:17
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Addendum Proposes Revision to BRD Requirements
The Commission's Weakfish Management Board has approved sending forward for public comment Draft Addendum III to Amendment 4 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Weakfish. The Draft Addendum seeks to resolve an inconsistency in bycatch reduction device (BRD) requirements between the Commission's Amendment 4 and the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council's Shrimp Amendment 6
Throughout its history, the weakfish management program has included management measures to reduce the bycatch mortality of weakfish in Southeast shrimp trawl fisheries. These requirements have been implemented to aid in the protection of weakfish stocks and complement bycatch reduction requirements as specified in the South Atlantic Fishery (Click the Title to read more)
Management Council's Shrimp FMP. In 2004, the Council altered its BRD certification standards, requiring devices to reduce finfish bycatch by a minimum of 30 percent. The Weakfish Management Board supports this action for two reasons. The new protocols will facilitate the certification of new devices to reduce finfish bycatch and retain shrimp catch. Further, weakfish generally react favorably to BRDs and escape from the net ascompared to many other finfish species. As such, the 30 percent reduction requirements will likely result in equal or greater protection to weakfish.
The Board is scheduled to meet in May to review public comment on the Draft Addendum and consider its final approval. Copies of the Draft Addendum can be obtained by contacting the Commission at (202) 289-6400 or via the Commission's website at www.asmfc.org under Breaking News. Public comment will be accepted until 5:00 PM on March 31, 2007 and should be forwarded to Nichola Meserve, Fisheries Management Plan Coordinator, 1444 'Eye' Street, NW, Sixth Floor, Washington, DC 20005; (202) 289-6051 (FAX) or at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (Subject line: Weakfish). For more information, please contact Nichola Meserve at (202) 289-6400 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
