New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife

January 9, 2002

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) and the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife will host a public hearing regarding the ASMFC's recently released Draft Addendum III to the Tautog Fishery Management Plan. The meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Tuesday, January 15, at the Ocean County Administration Building, 101 Hooper Avenue in Toms River.

The plan proposes changes to the current management program for tautog. These modifications include changes to the overfishing definition, stock rebuilding program and current stock assessment/monitoring methods. It also presents three options for the implementation of complementary management measures in the federal waters of the Exclusive Economic Zone. In addition, comment is being sought on how the necessary reductions in fishing mortality should be made - either through reductions in the recreational fishery alone or through reductions to both commercial and recreational fisheries.

Copies of the Draft Addendum can be obtained by contacting ASMFC Administrative Assistant Vanessa Jones (vjones@asmfc.org) at 202-289-6400, or by visiting the ASMFC web site at http://www.asmfc.org.

Individuals can provide input by attending the meeting; writing Fisheries Management Plan Coordinator Heather Stirratt at 1444 Eye Street, N.W., Sixth Floor, Washington, D.C. 20005; faxing their input to 202-289-6051; or e-mailing it to hstirratt@asmfc.org. Public comments will be accepted until February 15, 2002.