SPEAKING OF SHARKS!

[captcl]

Here's the schedule for public hearing on the new proposed regs.

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission was formed by the 15 Atlantic coastal states in 1942 for the promotion and
protection of coastal fishery resources. The Commission serves as a deliberative body of the Atlantic coastal states, coordinating
the conservation and management of nearshore fishery resources, including marine, shell and anadromous species.
1444 Eye Street, N.W. -- Sixth Floor -- Washington, D.C. 20005
(202) 289-6400 (phone) (202) 289-6051 (fax) www.asmfc.org
Working towards healthy, self-sustaining populations of all Atlantic coast fish species, or successful restoration
well in progress by the year 2015
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PRESS CONTACT: Tina Berger
January 28, 2008 (202) 289-6400

States Schedule Hearings on Draft FMP for Atlantic Coastal Sharks
Public Comment Accepted Until March 28, 2008
Washington, DC – States and jurisdictions from Maine through Florida have scheduled their hearings to gather public
comment on the Interstate Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Atlantic Coastal Sharks. The dates, times, and
locations of the scheduled meetings follow:

Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries
February 19, 2008; 6:30 pm
Plymouth Harbor Radisson
180 Water Street
Plymouth, Massachusetts
Contact: Melanie Griffin (617) 626-1528

Rhode Island Division of Fish and Wildlife
February 20 2008; 6:00 pm
Oliver Stedman Government Center
(Second Floor Conference Room)
4808 Tower Hill Road
Wakefield, Rhode Island
Contact: Nancy Scarduzio (401) 423-1927

New York Dept. of Environmental Conservation
March 3, 2008; 6:00 pm
Bureau of Marine Resources Headquarters
205 North Belle Mead Road
East Setauket, New York
Contact: Steve Heins (630) 444-0436

New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife
March 4, 2008; 7:00 pm
Ocean County Administrative Building
101 Hooper Avenue, Room 119
Toms River, New Jersey
Contact: Peter Himchak (609) 748-2020

Delaware Dept. of Natural Resources and
Environmental Control
March 11, 2008; 6:00 pm
OC Airport Conference Room
12724 Airport Road
Berlin, Maryland
Contact: Roy Miller (302) 739-9914

Maryland Dept. of Natural Resources
March 11, 2008; 6:00 pm
OC Airport Conference Room
12724 Airport Road
Berlin, Maryland
Contact: Michael Luisi (410) 260-8341

Virginia Marine Resources Commission
February 11, 2008; 6:00 pm
2600 Washington Ave, 4th floor
Newport News, Virginia
Contact: Jack Travelstead (757) 247-2247

North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries
February 26, 2008; 6:00 pm
Roanoke Island Festival Park
One Festival Park
Manteo, North Carolina
Contact: Fritz Rohde (910) 796-7215

Atlantic States Marine
Fisheries Commission
NEWS RELEASE
South Carolina Dept. of Natural Resources
February 27, 2008; 6:00 pm
Marine Resources Division Auditorium at Ft. Johnson
217 Ft. Johnson Rd.
Charleston, South Carolina
Contact: Bryan Frazier (843)-953-9843

Georgia Coastal Resources Division
February 2, 2008; 6:00 pm
Stellar Conference Center
125 Venture Drive
Brunswick, Georgia
Contact: Doug Haymans (912)-265-4600

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission
February 25, 2008; 6:00 pm
Cocoa Agriculture and Extension Office
Lecture Room
3695 Lake Drive
Cocoa, Florida
Contact: Jasmine Cumberbatch (850)-487-0554

The Draft FMP addresses the management of 39 shark species. It proposes management measures for state
recreational and commercial shark fisheries, including permitted species, regions, seasons, quotas, possession limits,
size limits, protection of nursing and pupping grounds, authorized gear, dealer reporting, research, display, finning,
and bycatch reduction.
Coordinated state management is a vital step towards establishing healthy self-sustaining populations of Atlantic
coastal sharks. Many species have been in a depleted state and are vulnerable to collapse if fishing pressure continues
as it has in recent years. Most of these sharks utilize state water coastal estuaries and bays as pupping grounds and
nurseries. The Draft FMP proposes to protect depleted shark stocks while they are in these areas during the most
vulnerable stages of their life cycles.
Another goal of Draft FMP is to establish complementary state and federal shark management. Currently some states
mirror federal regulations for Atlantic sharks while other states have no management (other than spiny dogfish) or
have regulations inconsistent with the federal FMP. Coordinating management between state and federal waters will
close loopholes between jurisdictions and simplify regulations for law enforcement officials.
Fishermen and other interested groups are encouraged to provide input on the Draft FMP, either by attending public
hearings or providing written comments. Copies of the Draft FMP can be obtained via the Commission’s website at
www.asmfc.org under Breaking News or by contacting the Commission at (202) 289-6400. Public comment will be
accepted until 5:00 PM on March 28, 2008, and should be forwarded to Chris Vonderweidt, Fisheries Management
Plan Coordinator, 1444 Eye Street, NW, Sixth Floor, Washington, DC 20005; (202) 289-6051 (FAX) or at
comments@asmfc.org (Subject line: Sharks). For more information, please contact Chris Vonderweidt at (202) 289-
6400 or cvonderweidt@asmfc.org.
PR08-02

[flatbottom]

is the dog shark included in study group?

thanks for the post captcl

[fishpicker]

What gonna be covered here is the new changes For ASMFC ( state waters). I would strongly urge everyone to attend. Right now the focus is on Large Coastal Sharks LCS ,
The Enviros are pushing to get spiny dogs and smooth dogs added into the LCS. There claims are that there are no more sharks left in the ocean which is false.

[Gut Wrench]

There claims are that there are no more sharks left in the ocean which is false.

the obviously have not been fishing off of charleston lately,we are covered up with Atlantic sharpnoses,sometimes hooking 4 at a time,nothing big but a real PIA...not sure where they all came from but we did not have this problem last year at this time???

[fishpicker]

the obviously have not been fishing off of charleston lately,we are covered up with Atlantic sharpnoses,sometimes hooking 4 at a time,nothing big but a real PIA...not sure where they all came from but we did not have this problem last year at this time???

Sonja Fordham AKA Shark Lady.

Last summer I took a very well known web site owner shark fishing with me. My goal was for him to shot all the video and take all of the photos he wanted. So I could take this evidence to the meetings ASMFC , Mid Atl Council and HMS and show the true numbers. I'm a advisor for ASMFC and HMS !!!!!

HMS claims that they have observer data but yet myself or the other two sharks boats in the NE region have never been tasked with a Observer.

We're not gonna beat these people single handed they have one hell of a net work !!!!! Today it will be LCS tomorrow it will be Makos and threshers. Again I urge you to attend the closest meeting and voice your discomfort.

[captcl]

Flat & others when NMFS was here last summer i don't remember them mentioning the dogs. They have plans on large and small coastal and plegic sharks. (I got the papers with the proposals at home) part of the emphasis is on Sandbars or brown sharks if you prefer. Anyway, there's the dates get your info/comment/suggestions together go to the meeting and tell them what you think! All tyhe proposal info is avilable on th NMFS site. Hey there Fishpicker I'm on it!

[fishpicker]

Flat & others when NMFS was here last summer i don't remember them mentioning the dogs. They have plans on large and small coastal and plegic sharks. (I got the papers with the proposals at home) part of the emphasis is on Sandbars or brown sharks if you prefer. Anyway, there's the dates get your info/comment/suggestions together go to the meeting and tell them what you think! All tyhe proposal info is avilable on th NMFS site. Hey there Fishpicker I'm on it!

STATUS QUO the last thing anybody want is mixing of Dogs either kind in with anything else !!!!!