DNR To Hold Public Meetings To Discuss Flounder Regulations

Meetings scheduled for January 14 and 19

ANNAPOLIS, MD (January 12, 2010) — The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will host two public meetings to discuss possible recreational flounder fishing options for the 2010 season. The first will be January 14 at the Prince Frederick Library at 6:00 pm. The second and last meeting will be at the Ocean City Marlin Club on January 19 at 6:00 pm.

The options for flounder fishing in Maryland are largely controlled by mandates from the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC), a federal commission created by Congress to manage multi-state fisheries. The ASFMC Technical Committee determined that Maryland and other states such as New Jersey and Delaware exceeded their recreational fishing targets in 2009. NOAA survey data indicates that anglers took home roughly 89,000, if not more, flounder in 2009, despite the quota set at 63,000. State fishery managers and flounder anglers will be required to reduce their harvest for this season, although NOAA has increased the quota to 75,000.

The options for the reduction include an increase in minimum size, a shorter season, a smaller creel limit or a combination of these strategies. DNR biologists will have the preferred options ready to present at these meetings and will welcome public comment as they prepare Maryland’s solution for presentation to the ASMFC Flounder Board on February 3.

Beginning this year, all anglers fishing in tidal waters must register with NOAA through the MRIP website (www.countmyfish.com) or by calling (888) MRIP-411 (888-674-7411). It is a free and painless process where you will simply provide your contact information so NOAA can possibly get in touch with you to find out how your fishing went this year.

DNR is working on changes to Maryland’s Bay Fishing License to make it so our National Saltwater Angler Registration can occur automatically with the purchase of the state fishing license in the future.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), which celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2009, is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to citizens and visitors. DNR manages more than 467,000 acres of public lands and 17,000 miles of waterways, along with Maryland's forests, fisheries, and wildlife for maximum environmental, economic and quality of life benefits. A national leader in land conservation, DNR-managed parks and natural, historic, and cultural resources attract 12 million visitors annually. DNR is the lead agency in Maryland's effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay, the state's number one environmental priority. Learn more at www.dnr.maryland.gov