30 



the recreational sector made up over 92 percent of the catch. The 

 current management plan calls for an 80/20 split. 



In practice the split has not been holding at 80/20 and we must 

 manage bluefish the same way we manage fluke. We need to rely 

 on the scientists to determine the bottom line figure for bluefish 

 stocks so we do not slide below that figure while waiting for condi- 

 tions to change. 



Both the commercial and recreational communities need to share 

 the burden in a way that reflects their historical catch. We also 

 need to consider if it is to our advantage to slow the harvest in the 

 short-term, hoping for a long-term increase or a longer sustainable 

 yield of bluefish. 



Science does not currently provide data to make a definitive deci- 

 sion. A full moratorium might not substantially increase the stocks 

 at this time. Or, for that matter, not slow the decrease but it would 

 cause economic disaster for the fishing industry. 



Any plan that will come from the Mid-Atlantic Council and the 

 Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission must do two things, 

 insure that we preserve a spawning stock biomass large enough to 

 rebuild the stocks if the conditions are right, and protect the his- 

 toric commercial/recreational split. Each community should share 

 fairly in any sacrifice that must be made. 



Remember, the original Bluefish Management Plan was not de- 

 signed to address a declining stock. It was written to protect the 

 historical split from any new fisheries that might develop. The 

 great fear was that any new foreign markets could devastate the 

 stock. Any new plan must be based on different assumptions that 

 recognize the current decline in the stock. Thank you. 



Mr. Saxton. Thank you, Mr. Fote. Mr. Bogan. 



STATEMENT OF RAYMOND D. BOGAN, UNITED BOATMEN OF 

 NEW JERSEY AND NEW YORK 



Mr. BoGAN. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you Mr. 

 Pallone for the opportunity to testify. I am Ray Bogan and I rep- 

 resent the United Boatman of New Jersey and New York which is 

 an organization of charter and head boat owners and operators. 



Our members own and operate some of the largest vessels and 

 businesses in the head boat and charter boat industry on the east 

 coast. We literally traverse hundreds of thousands of miles of ocean 

 in the course of a given year. In that regard, I would like to testify 

 as to the role of the Federal Government in the management of 

 bluefish. As I go on, I will also discuss the proposed change of rule 

 which would give the Atlantic States Marine Fishery Commission 

 primary jurisdiction over fish management. 



To begin with, I would like to say, do we believe there is a de- 

 cline in the biomass of biomass? Yes, we feel there is some decline. 

 However, what we would like to strongly indicate is that before we 

 conclude the extent of the decline, or before we conclude that this 

 decline is precipitous, we have to look at an awful lot of factors and 

 that is the basis of my testimony today. 



Since the late 1980's, there have been significant changes in bait 

 patterns and availability. Indeed, prior testimony made reference 

 to a change in sand eel abundance. My family ran, I believe, the 

 only sand eel bait boat in the states of New Jersey and New York. 



