Several proposed recreational fishing rules will be discussed at the upcoming meeting of the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's Highly Migratory Species Committee.
The committee has slated a webinar for 10 a.m., EST, Monday, Feb. 4. The public can listen in. Go to http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2013-01-18/html/2013-00974.htm for details. You can also go to the public listening post at the council office, 800 N. State St., Suite 201, Dover, DE 19901, (302) 674-2331.
The meeting will focus on Amendment 5 to the 2006 Consolidated Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan.
The plan includes increasing the minimum size of fish recreational fishermen can catch and increasing reporting requirements for recreational fishermen who land certain species of sharks. It may also include some time/area closures. For details, see stories linked to below and http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/newslist/2012/11-15-12_a5_proposed_rule_listserv.pdf.
The National Marine Fisheries Service is considering the new rules but the council has expressed concerns about what they might mean for fishers in the Mid-Atlantic.
The public comment period continues until Feb. 12.
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