ADVISORY COUNCIL ON TIDAL FINFISHERIES

MINUTES OF JAN. 20, 2010

Richardson and Robbins Building Auditorium, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, Delaware 19901

Phone: 302-739-9914, Fax: 302-739-6157

2

ADVISORY COUNCIL

Dewayne Fox, Ph.D., Chairman

Bernie Pankowski

Brian Hoffecker (absent)

James “Jay” Little

Marvin Kahl, Jr. (absent)

Ken Logan

P. “Wes” Townsend


DIVISION OF FISH & WILDLIFE

Craig Shirey

Pat Emory

Scott Newlin

Stew Michels

Matt Fisher

Jared Jacobini

Capt. John Rutherford

Capt. Aaron Hurd

Kim Records


PUBLIC

11 Visitors

2

2

Agenda Item 1. Welcome

Dr. Fox called the meeting to order at 6:00 PM. He welcomed everyone and expressed gratitude for their attendance.

Agenda Item 2. Approval of Minutes from 11/18/09

A motion was made, seconded and carried to approve the meeting minutes from November.

Agenda Item 3. Delaware River and Bay Main Channel Deepening

Dr. Fox said that Bill Moyer was unable to make it to tonight’s meeting, so this agenda item will be postponed to next month’s meeting, scheduled for February 17.

Agenda Item 4. Pending Weakfish Regulations and Public Hearing

Mr. Shirey stated that the public hearing on proposed regulation changes for weakfish will be held in this auditorium tomorrow night beginning at 6:00 p.m. The proposed coastwide changes call for the decrease in the recreational creel limit from 6 fish to 1 and include a commercial 100-pounds trip limit. These changes would put Delaware into compliance with the ASMFC’s fishery management plan for weakfish.

Agenda Item 5. Black Drum Management Plan

Mr. Michels said that the joint management plan is currently awaiting signature approval by Secretary O’Mara and NJ’s DNR Secretary. He added that due to administration changes, NJ is unlikely to change their regulations before this spring, so DE will probably go with the current NJ regulations for now since a joint management plan requires comparable regulations. Current NJ recreational regulations allow a 65,000-pounds annual quota and a limit of 3 fish, a 16-inch total length size limit for recreational and commercial fisheries, a commercial 10,000-pounds limited daily harvest by any vessel and a 10,000-pounds limited purchase from any vessel by any dealer. The public hearing previously mentioned by Mr. Shirey, to be held tomorrow night, will also include a hearing for the proposed bi-state management plan for black drum.

Agenda Item 6. Delaware’s Winter Tautog Regulations

Mr. Newlin gave a brief PowerPoint presentation (as requested by Jeff Tinsman - currently on a business trip) which posed questions regarding potential tautog regulations. The DFW has received a good deal of public comment expressing concern for stricter recreational regulations on this species. Mr. Newlin explained that he looked into whether or not bag limits should be reduced, how much reduction is recommended and which season(s) a reduction should affect. Based on the most recent landings data, any real reduction in the bag limit would have to take place in the winter months in order to make a difference. After some discussion, the Council requested that the DFW look into more data and provide more details at next month’s meeting. Mr. Newlin warned that if DE voluntarily reduces tautog landings, and in the future the ASMFC implements a fishery management plan for this species, DE will be required to comply based on current regulations. For example, if DE implements a 6-fish creel limit this year and next year the ASMFC requires a coastwide reduction by 50%, then DE would have to reduce the statewide creel limit to 3 fish. The ASMFC (based on past practices) does not give credit to states which voluntarily regulate species that they do not already manage.

Agenda Item 7. Striped Bass Regulations for Nanticoke River

Mr. Shirey reviewed DE’s current recreational regulations for striped bass in the Nanticoke River: 2 fish, 28-inch minimum, with a closed season during April and May for spawning. He wants to bring it to the attention of this Council that MD’s regulations for its portion of the Nanticoke are different and added that it may be possible to change our regulations in order to make recreational striped bass fishing more uniform in this river. The current regulations in the MD portion of the Nanticoke are: Jan-Feb catch and release only, Mar-May closed, and Jun-Dec 2 fish 18-28 inches or 1 fish 18-28 inches and 1 fish 28 inches or greater. Delaware fishermen would have increased opportunities to catch smaller fish with the same or similar regulations as MD and enforcement would be simplified. After some discussion, the Council passed a motion for the DFW to move forward with these changes.

Agenda Item 8. Research Spotlight: Juvenile Atlantic Sturgeon Telemetry

Mr. Fisher gave a PowerPoint presentation regarding recent research on Atlantic sturgeon. He went over the history that lead to the collapse of this fishery in the first half of the 20th century, and he explained that because this species is so long-lived and slow to mature (15-20 years), it is being considered for endangered species status. Data collected over the past several decades shows that numbers of Atlantic sturgeon are still at a fraction of what they once were. Mr. Fisher then explained that during sampling in September several young-of-year Atlantic sturgeon were discovered near Cherry Island flats. This is the first sign of spawning in about 50 years in the Delaware River. He then went over the actual tagging and tracking procedures being used for the research project and the data collected to date. These recent findings are very exciting and promising, but Mr. Fisher warned that this species still has a long, long way to go before being considered a recovered stock. There are many environmental issues continuing to endanger the survival of this species, but there are hopeful signs such as; the Delaware River being the longest un-dammed river system on the east coast and water quality is consistently improving. The benefits of restoring the Atlantic sturgeon to a healthy population include; a restoration of local history, habitat protection and an increase in diversity, both of which benefits the ecosystem.

Agenda Item 9. Agenda items for February 17 meeting

The next meeting will take place February 17 and Dr. Fox reviewed topics to be discussed at that time:

1.  Summer flounder regulations for 2010

2.  More detailed tautog information

3.  Delaware River & Bay main channel deepening

This meeting adjourned at 7:40 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Kim Records

Recording Secretary

2