Silver Spring, MD - Summer flounder, also known as fluke, has been at the center of much debate since last summer. With National Marine Fisheries Service proposing a crippling harvest level for 2007, the recreational fishing industry feared it would not have any fluke season at all.
In 2006, fluke anglers enjoyed a total allowable landing (TAL) of 23 million pounds split between the commercial and recreational communities. This season, however, the fluke TAL will see a 6 million pound decrease. This TAL cut was brought about by an emergency rule in an effort to rebuild the stock. Under the Magnuson-Stevens Act (MSA), limits are placed on summer flounder in an effort to rebuild their stock. This season’s 17.112 million pound limit was authorized by a recent amendment to the MSA, which was signed into law on January 19th, and is estimated at having a 75% probability of achieving the rebuilding goal.
“When we had originally heard the proposed five million pound limit last summer, it was obvious that the very concept would be devastating to fluke anglers on the east coast”, explained Jim Donofrio, Executive Director of the Recreational Fishing Alliance (RFA). “Thankfully, some members of congress were willing to explore an alternative for rebuilding. Our request was for a five year extension, and we’ve been given three years.”
While the recreational fishing industry has been given some reprieve, it will still feel some pain this season. Donofrio stated “RFA recognizes that this amendment does not address the long-term issues concerning Fisheries Management or keeping the recreational community fishing. It is unfortunate that we haven’t been granted flexibility for the management of all species.”
Fluke is the most popular species of fish harvested by recreational anglers in the mid-Atlantic region, bringing in over $300 million in revenue to communities up and down the east coast.
