Maine Update on 2011 Scup, Black Sea Bass, & Fluke Regulations

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The Commonwealth’s Marine Fisheries Advisory Commission met on April 7 and approved proposed regulations for commercial and recreational scup, black sea bass, and fluke management in 2011. The recreational black sea bass regulations also required approval by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, which was granted on April 20. Due to the late timing of the action, MarineFisheries is enacting emergency regulations for the upcoming season. These regulations will allow Massachusetts to remain in compliance with the interstate plans and in some cases to capitalize on more liberal catch limits allowed under the plans.



The following changes are in effect for 2011:



Commercial Scup: An increase of 50,000 pounds to the quota set-aside for the weir fishery; a doubling of the trip limits for all other authorized gears; replacement of Thursday with Wednesday as an open fishing day for the May fish pot and hook-and-line fishery; and a one-month earlier season opening for the summer directed fishery, with the addition of Sunday as a fishing day for the fish pot and hook-and-line fishery.