As feared, NOAA Fisheries has shut down the black sea bass fishery for the remainder of the year due to recreational catches being well above the 2012 quota. In other words, because the black sea bass population is healthy, fishing was very good this year and fishermen caught too many.
At last week’s Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council meetings, it was reported that the 2012 recreational harvest limit of black sea bass exceeded 2.3 million pounds of fish through the first four (out of six) full ‘waves’ of recreational data collection. Given that the recreational sector was given a 1.3 million pound catch limit for the entire year, it is not surprising that federal waters have been closed to recreational sea bass harvest in November and December, and possibly into 2013. It is expected that state waters will also be closed.
As the Recreational Fishing Alliance (RFA) explained in a recent press release, since the recreational fishing community exceeded its annual catch limit (ACL) on black sea bass in 2012, accountability measures will be triggered meaning any overages this year could come off of next season’s allowable landings. RFA warns that it’s entirely possible that the full overharvest in 2012 could be applied directly to the 2013 ACL.
“If you consider that we’re over the ACL by about 95%, imagine what happens next year when only get to fish on 5% of our allowable harvest,” said RFA executive director Jim Donofrio. “A healthy fish stock yet boats will be lucky to sail a week or two at most.”
Here is the official announcement from NOAA Fisheries:
Recreational Black Sea Bass Fishery Closure
Effective Date: November 1, 2012
The 2012 black sea bass recreational harvest limit has been reached. Effective 0001 hours,
November 1, 2012, no one may fish for or possess black sea bass in Federal waters for the
remainder of the 2012 calendar year, unless issued a commercial moratorium permit and fishing
commercially. This closure also applies to vessels issued a Federal party/charter permit fishing
in state waters. Vessel owners issued Federal permits are reminded that they must continue to
complete and submit vessel logbooks.
I commercially sea bass and scup fish. We have seen seabass go from 200lbs. to 80 lbs. how do you expect a man to make a proud livin when the quota is met before May is over! Am I a happy CapeCod comm. fisherman, Hell NO!!!!!!! Is it gonna get worse? HELL YAH! YOU force the honest man to “look for a grey area” shame on oursaltwater “masshole” regulators!!!!!!!!!!!!