Notice to Fishermen
January 31, 2012
TAUTOG FISHERY CLOSURE
Under authority of 26-159a of the Connecticut General Statutes and Section 26-159a-22 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies, the Commissioner of Environmental Protection is authorized to establish or adjust, by declaration, closed seasons, length limits, creel limits, trip limits and trip limit adjustment values in order to meet the harvest level for efficient management and to comply with interstate fishery management plans adopted by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC).
Commercial Fishery Closed Season. No person engaged in commercial fishing shall take, bring ashore, or possess any tautog, wherever taken, from February 1 to April 30 inclusive.
Recreational Fishery Closed Season. No person, while on the waters of this state or on any parcel of land, structure, or portion of a roadway abutting tidal waters of this state shall take, possess or land tautog taken by sport fishing methods, regardless of where taken, from February 1 to April 30 inclusive.
These season closures are required to remain in compliance with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission Tautog Fishery Management Plan Addendum IV which mandates states reduce 2012 harvest by 53%. Although little tautog harvest occurs during the closure period specified in this notice, the closure is required to assure that 2012 compliance measures are fully effective.
Public Hearings to consider management alternatives to be effective May 1, have been scheduled for Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 7:00 pm in Old Lyme at Marine Headquarters (333 Ferry Rd) Boating Education Center and Saturday, February 18, 2012 from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm at the Connecticut Convention Center Ballroom in Hartford. The February 18 Hearing immediately follows the Trophy Fish Award Program during the Northeast Fishing and Hunting Expo. The hearings will also include 2012 recreational fishery management measures for summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass, the 2012 Enhanced Shore Angler Opportunity Program and the 2012 Striped Bass Bonus Fishery Program, in addition to commercial and recreational tautog fishery management measures.
For current commercial fishery trip limits see:
ct.gov/dep/lib/dep/fishing/commercial/connecticut_commercial_trip_limits.pdf
For further information, contact the DEEP Marine Fisheries Division by email at dep.marine.fisheries@ct.gov, by mail at P.O. Box 719, Old Lyme, CT 06371 or by telephone at 860.434.6043 between the hours of 8:30 AM and 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday.
The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and service provider. In conformance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, DEP makes every effort to provide equally effective services for persons with disabilities. Individuals with disabilities who need this information in an alternative format, to allow them to benefit and/or participate in the agency’s programs and services, should call 860-424-3051 or 860-418-5937 or e-mail Marcia Bonitto, ADA Coordinator, at dep.aaoffice@ct.gov. Persons who are hearing impaired should call the State of Connecticut relay number 711. Requests for accommodations must be made at least two weeks prior to the program date.
January 31, 2012
TAUTOG FISHERY CLOSURE
Under authority of 26-159a of the Connecticut General Statutes and Section 26-159a-22 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies, the Commissioner of Environmental Protection is authorized to establish or adjust, by declaration, closed seasons, length limits, creel limits, trip limits and trip limit adjustment values in order to meet the harvest level for efficient management and to comply with interstate fishery management plans adopted by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC).
Commercial Fishery Closed Season. No person engaged in commercial fishing shall take, bring ashore, or possess any tautog, wherever taken, from February 1 to April 30 inclusive.
Recreational Fishery Closed Season. No person, while on the waters of this state or on any parcel of land, structure, or portion of a roadway abutting tidal waters of this state shall take, possess or land tautog taken by sport fishing methods, regardless of where taken, from February 1 to April 30 inclusive.
These season closures are required to remain in compliance with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission Tautog Fishery Management Plan Addendum IV which mandates states reduce 2012 harvest by 53%. Although little tautog harvest occurs during the closure period specified in this notice, the closure is required to assure that 2012 compliance measures are fully effective.
Public Hearings to consider management alternatives to be effective May 1, have been scheduled for Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 7:00 pm in Old Lyme at Marine Headquarters (333 Ferry Rd) Boating Education Center and Saturday, February 18, 2012 from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm at the Connecticut Convention Center Ballroom in Hartford. The February 18 Hearing immediately follows the Trophy Fish Award Program during the Northeast Fishing and Hunting Expo. The hearings will also include 2012 recreational fishery management measures for summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass, the 2012 Enhanced Shore Angler Opportunity Program and the 2012 Striped Bass Bonus Fishery Program, in addition to commercial and recreational tautog fishery management measures.
For current commercial fishery trip limits see:
ct.gov/dep/lib/dep/fishing/commercial/connecticut_commercial_trip_limits.pdf
For further information, contact the DEEP Marine Fisheries Division by email at dep.marine.fisheries@ct.gov, by mail at P.O. Box 719, Old Lyme, CT 06371 or by telephone at 860.434.6043 between the hours of 8:30 AM and 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday.
The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and service provider. In conformance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, DEP makes every effort to provide equally effective services for persons with disabilities. Individuals with disabilities who need this information in an alternative format, to allow them to benefit and/or participate in the agency’s programs and services, should call 860-424-3051 or 860-418-5937 or e-mail Marcia Bonitto, ADA Coordinator, at dep.aaoffice@ct.gov. Persons who are hearing impaired should call the State of Connecticut relay number 711. Requests for accommodations must be made at least two weeks prior to the program date.