The Commonwealth will host an ASMFC meeting to gather public comment on a Public Information Document (PID) for the Interstate Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Atlantic Coastal Sharks.The meeting will take place on Wednesday, June 21st (6PM) at the Plymouth Harbor Radisson (180 Water St.). Please see the ASMFC press releases below and visit www.asmfc.org for further information.

Atlantic Coastal States Schedule Public Meetings
to Gather Input on Coastal Sharks PID

Washington, DC – Atlantic coastal states from Maine to Florida have scheduled their public meetings in order to gather public comment on the Public Information Document (PID) for the Interstate Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Atlantic Coastal Sharks. The dates, times, and locations of those meetings follow:

New Hampshire, Connecticut and Delaware have declined to hold public meetings. The remaining states (Maine, New Jersey and Virginia) may still schedule public meetings; information of these meetings will be released as they become available.

As the first step in the development of an interstate FMP, the PID presents a broad overview of the issues facing Atlantic coastal sharks and the fishing industry. It provides the public with the opportunity to tell the Commission about changes observed in the fishery, things that should or should not be done in terms of management, regulation, enforcement, research, development, and enhancement, and any other concerns about the resource or the fishery as well as the reasons for those concerns.

Please note that the PID focuses entirely on Atlantic coastal sharks (see table below). This species complex does NOT include spiny dogfish, as such, commenters are asked to direct their input on those species under consideration for inclusion in the PID.

The PID and subsequent FMP are being developed to help coordinate the conservation and management of coastal sharks among the Atlantic coastal states and between the states and the federal government. Currently, Atlantic coastal sharks are managed by individual states in inshore waters (0 – 3 miles from shore) and by the federal government through the 1999 Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish and Sharks in offshore waters (3 to 200 miles from shore). Cooperation between federal and state governments in developing coordinated conservation measures is important to successful domestic management of coastal shark species because range, migrations, mating and pupping areas overlap state and federal jurisdictions. Many coastal species utilize highly productive bays and estuaries within state waters as nursery habitat. In addition, because the unique nature of shark biology (late maturity, low fecundity) makes shark species more susceptible to overfishing, traditional fisheries management methods become less effective.

Following the initial phase of information-gathering and public comment, the Commission will evaluate potential management alternatives and develop a draft FMP with preferred management measures identified for public review. Following that review and public comment, the Commission will specify the management measures to be included in the new FMP. A tentative schedule for the completion of the FMP for Atlantic Coastal Sharks is included in PID.

Fishermen and other interested groups are encouraged to provide input on the PID, either through attending public hearings or providing written comments. Copies can be obtained by contacting the Commission at (202) 289-6400 or via the Commission’s website at www.asmfc.org under Breaking News. Public comment will be accepted until 5:00 PM on July 14, 2006 and should be forwarded to Ruth Christiansen, Fisheries Management Plan Coordinator, 1444 ‘Eye’ Street, NW, Sixth Floor, Washington, DC 20005; 202-289-6051 (FAX) or at comments@asmfc.org (Subject line: Coastal Sharks). For more information, please contact Ruth Christiansen at 202-289-6400.