Summer Flounder Commercial Mesh Size Exemptions Framework/Addendum Map Now in Fishing Theme
The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC) and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s (ASMFC) Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Board are jointly developing a framework/addendum to consider potential changes to two exemptions to the summer flounder commercial minimum mesh size requirements. This action includes potential boundary changes to the Small Mesh Exemption Program (SMEP) area.
The Management Areas: Summer Flounder Draft Addendum XXXV map layer shown with the Frank R. Lautenberg Deep Sea Coral Protection Area and Scup Gear Restricted Areas layers.
Users can now view a new Management Areas: Summer Flounder Draft Addendum XXXV map layer to examine and evaluate the proposed changes in combination with any of the Portal’s many layers depicting marine life distributions, fishing activity and current management area boundaries, seafloor habitat and ocean conditions, and much more. The map shows the existing/status quo SMEP area in a solid yellow color and the proposed expansion area in stripes. Two map layers showing adjacent fishery management areas that remain in effect and are not subject to changes by this action (the Frank R. Lautenberg Deep Sea Coral Protection Area and Scup Gear Restricted Areas) will automatically load as companion layers to aid in review of the draft alternative.
The map showing proposed boundary changes for this action can be found in the Portal’s Fishing theme by clicking on the “Management Areas: Draft Alternative Management Areas” dropdown menu. A separate Summer Flounder Small-Mesh Exemption Area map layer showing only the existing area can also be found in the “Management Areas: Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass” dropdown.
The proposed boundary change would move the western demarcation line farther west, as suggested by fishing industry representatives during the Fall 2023 review process for this exemption.
The public is encouraged to submit comments regarding the Draft Addendum by Sept. 28, 2024. To read the Draft Addendum document, which contains instructions for submitting comments and participating in online public hearings, visit https://asmfc.org/files/PublicInput/SummerFlounderDraftAddendumXXXV_PublicComment.pdf.
The MAFMC Summer Flounder Commercial Mesh Size Exemptions Framework/Addendum page contains further details, including an action development timeline and links to several relevant background documents.
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