NEWS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL

Jan. 15, 2010
Vol. 40, No. 13

For more information, contact Craig Shirey, Fisheries, 302-739-9914, or Joanna Wilson, Public Affairs, 302-739-9902.

Proposed new regulations for black drum to be topic of Jan. 21 public hearing Delaware

DOVER - The DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife will hold a public hearing at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 21 in the DNREC auditorium, Richardson & Robbins Building, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, regarding proposed new regulations for the management of black drum. The regulations would establish recreational and commercial size limits (16 or 32-inch minimum), a recreational creel limit of two or three fish daily and an annual commercial landing quota of 50,000 or 65,000 pounds.

The states of Delaware and New Jersey have developed a bi-state fishery management plan for the black drum resource in the Delaware River and Delaware Bay. The limited available data suggest black drum exploitation within the Delaware Estuary has increased in recent years. Adult black drum are targeted in the spring by the recreational and commercial fisheries as the species gathers to spawn in the Delaware Bay.

Adoption of these new regulations would better ensure the long-term viability of the resource, its continued use by current and future generations of the fishing public, and the species’ continued role in the Delaware Estuary’s ecosystem. In the absence of a coastwide interstate management plan, DNREC is limited to adopting regulations through a bi-state plan that are substantially similar to New Jersey’s regulations. New Jersey is proposing to adopt more restrictive management options, but these regulations are pending. DNREC will seek to adopt similar regulations at the time of public hearing.

Also on the agenda for the Jan. 21 public hearing will be proposed changes to Delaware regulations designed to reduce the recreational and commercial harvest of weakfish.

Citizens may send written comments to Lisa Vest, Hearing Officer, DNREC Office of the Secretary, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901 or email to lisa.vest@state.de.us.

Questions may be addressed to the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901, or email craig.shirey@state.de.us, or call Fisheries at 302-739-9914.