Some Facts On How Fluke Have Been Managed

[george]

COMMERCIAL VS RECREATIONAL SPLIT:

• 60% commercial / 40% recreational allocation established in 1992
• Based on 1980-1989 historical catch data (last stable period before stock collapse)
• Commercial sector dominated with ~60% of 26,100 metric tons peak landings in 1983

CONSERVATION EQUIVALENCY PROBLEMS:

• System allows states different regulations despite managing same fish stock
• New Jersey consistently gets 1-2 inch smaller size limits than NY/CT (9 out of 10 years)
• Based on unreliable data with 50-100%+ error rates (PSE values)
• Violates scientific principle of managing stock as single unit

10-YEAR REGULATORY DISPARITIES (2014-2024):

• 2014: All states had uniform 18" size limit, 5 fish bag limit
• 2015-2024: NJ maintained consistent advantages with smaller size limits
• NY/CT faced increasingly restrictive regulations despite more fish in their waters
• Special NJ zones (Delaware Bay, Island Beach) provide additional advantages

DATA ACCURACY ISSUES:

• MRIP survey data has 15-100%+ error rates for state-level estimates
• Major data revisions: new estimates 1.5-3x higher than old estimates
• ASMFC monitoring committees acknowledge "high PSEs" and data problems
• System relies on data known to be inadequate for precise management

ECONOMIC/SOCIAL IMPACTS:

• NY/CT anglers face 15-40% reduced harvest opportunities
• Charter boat industry disadvantaged in NY/CT vs NJ
• Creates unfair competition based on political boundaries, not fish location
• Enforcement nightmare at state borders (same fish, different rules)

STOCK DISTRIBUTION MISMATCH:

• Fish population shifted north since 1998 baseline allocations
• More fish now in NY/CT waters, but they face most restrictive regulations
• NJ keeps liberal rules despite fewer local fish
• 1998 allocations don't reflect current reality

BOTTOM LINE: Conservation equivalency has failed - it creates persistent inequities, relies on bad data, and violates scientific management principles. The system needs comprehensive reform to restore fairness and effectiveness.

You can find more here: Summer Flounder Commercial vs Recreational Allocation

 

[hartattack]

I've got a feeling that state-by-state regs will become regionalized and NY will be grouped with NJ, not CT. NJ would prefer MD/DE categorization,,, but no matter how you slice it the current allocation/regulation setup ain't working. And garbage science can't help. And with respect to fluke, commercial fishing during the offshore spawn is ludicrous. The good news is that friends on state and fed boards say that the rec Fisherman is now well represented at those agencies. How loud the rec voice vs comm voice is received will be telling.