Size limits, reporting are part of plans 



Here are some specifics on the ten- 

 tative plans which are closest to com- 

 pletion in the South Atlantic council. 

 In some cases the full council has ap- 

 proved the measures and in others they 

 are simply committee recommenda- 

 tions. All are subject to change as the 

 plans are developed. The council has 

 jurisdiction from North Carolina 

 through the east coast of Florida. 



Mackerel — While king mackerel, 

 Spanish mackerel and cobia are in- 

 cluded in the plan, Premetz says that 

 the king mackerel is under the greatest 

 stress now and will be subject to more 



regulation. A final draft of this plan is 

 expected in April or May, according to 

 Premetz. 



The plan, which is being developed 

 jointly with the Gulf of Mexico Fish- 

 ery Management Council, sets an op- 

 timum yield or total maximum 

 allowable catch of 37 million pounds 

 for king mackerel. It will be illegal to 

 sell any king mackerel under 25 inches 

 in length. A minimum mesh size for gill 

 nets of four and three-quarters inches 

 stretch will be required. 



The greatest allocation of king 

 mackerel, 28 million pounds, goes to 

 recreational fishermen. Commercial 



fishermen are allotted 9 million 

 pounds. As the optimum yield is ap- 

 proached, Premetz says management 

 measures would include bag limits for 

 recreational fishermen, closed seasons 

 by area and time for both commercial 

 and recreational fishermen, pound or 

 haul quotas for commercial net boats, 

 and daily catch limits for commercial 

 hook and line fishermen. 



The council also is considering ex- 

 cluding purse seines from the fishery 

 because, according to Premetz, "they 

 are reluctant to open the fishery to any 

 new highly efficient gear without 

 determining the impact." A study has 



EAST/GULF COAST 

 FISHERY MANAGEMENT PLANS 

 UNDER DEVELOPMENT 

 DECEMBER, 1978 



NEW ENGLAND 



FISHERY MANAGEMENT COUNCIL 



Atlantic Herring 

 Scallop 

 Red Fish 

 Hake (Silver) 



Pollock 

 Other Hake 

 Red Crab 

 Northern Shrimp 



Atlantic Groundfish for 1977" 

 Atlantic Groundfish Amendment §\" 

 Atlantic Groundfish Amendment #2* 

 Atlantic Groundfish for 1979 



MID- ATLANTIC 



FISHERY MANAGEMENT COUNCIL 



Atlantic Mackerel 



Butterfish 



Shark 



American Lobster 



Bluefish 

 Scup 

 Sea Bass 

 Fluke 



