2011 NJ Flounder season options

[kensdock]

New Jersey
2010 Harvest Target: 997,000 fish
2010 Landings: 593,677 fish
2011 Harvest Target: 1,335,000
Alteration for 2010 unadjusted: 125% liberalization
2010 Regulations:
Minimum Size: 18”
Possession Limit: 6 fish
Open Season: May 29-September 6
Proposed 2011 Measures:

Option Min Size Bag
Limit Open Season Liberalization*
1 18” 6 May 28-September 5 31%
2 17.5” 6 May 28-September 5 117%
3 17” 6 May 28-September 5 207%
4 17.5” 6 May 21-September 11 139%
5 17.5” 8 May 21-September 11 145%
6 18” 6 May 14-September 18 61%
7 18” 8 May 14-September 18 62%
8 18” 6 May 2 – Sept 30 88%
9 17”/18” 1/5 May 28-September 5 97%
10 17”/18” 1/5 May 14-September 18 141%
11 17”/18” 1/7 May 28-September 5 97%
12 17”/18” 1/7 May 14-September 18 142%
13 17.5”/18” 1/5 May 28-September 5 72%
14 17.5”/18” 1/5 May 14-September 18 110%
15 17.5”/18” 1/7 May 28-September 5 73%
16 17.5”/18” 1/7 May 14-September 18 111%
Healthy, self-sustaining populations for all Atlantic coast fish species or successful restoration well in progress by the year 2015

* Liberalization results based on catch per trip from NJ VAS and average coastwide weight per fish of 3.35 pounds
Additional Factors accounted for in proposal:
Averages of the most recent three years of data (2008 through 2010) were used, this was more conservative than if only 2010 data were used.

Technical Committee Recommendation:
Approve all options but 3, 4, 5, 10, and 12. Technically in the proposal the dual size limit will work but it will make future years analysis more difficult.
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[kensdock]

ASMFC recently took the following options off the table:

3, 4, 5, 10 and 12