Trenton, New Jersey. In order to reduce Atlantic cobia catches by 15.9% for the 2025 fishing season, the Marine Fisheries Council and the Bureau of Marine Fisheries of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) Fish & Wildlife are seeking public input on proposed recreational fishing rules.
Under Addendum II to Amendment 1 of the Atlantic Cobia Fishery Management Plan (FMP), the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) mandates the reduction. The addition creates a framework for regional distribution that divides management between the southern states (North Carolina to Georgia) and the northern states (Rhode Island to Virginia).
According to data, the northern region’s recreational harvests averaged 62,832 fish each year between 2021 and 2023, which was more than the 52,825 fish allotted for the region. The ASMFC requires northern states to have standard size and possession limits in order to reach the goal; Virginia and Maryland must also modify their fishing seasons. The current seasons might continue in states ranging from Delaware to Rhode Island.
To accomplish the necessary reduction, the NJDEP has created a number of regulatory alternatives. On Wednesday, December 18, 2024, at 6:00 p.m., a virtual public hearing will be conducted to solicit public input on the policies that should be adopted in New Jersey.
Anglers and interested parties are invited to attend the conference, which will only be conducted by webinar, in order to influence the state’s future legislation governing the fishing of Atlantic cobia.
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