The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Division of Fish and Wildlife will host a public meeting regarding proposed modifications to the ASMFC’s American Eel Interstate Fishery Management Plan (FMP).

The meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Wednesday, January 25, at Richard Stockton College, Townsend Residential Life Center, Multi-purpose Room in Pomona, Atlantic County. Similar meetings are scheduled for Delaware, Florida, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island and Virginia.

Modifications propose the establishment of a mandatory trip-level catch and effort monitoring program for American eel in order to collect much needed data on this species. Specific options include an eel harvester license/permit by state to target those who harvest eels for use as bait and an eel dealer license/permit for bait dealers.