The summer flounder quota is set to rise in 2010, spelling potential relief for anglers who have been plagued with crushing size limits for the past three seasons despite the fact that the fishery remains at record levels. The currently-proposed quota of 22.13-million pounds for 2010 brings the quota closer to 2006 levels, when the quota was 23.60 million pounds. The size limit that year was 16.5-inches with a bag limit of eight fish in New Jersey. Currently, there is a bag limit of six fish at 18-inches, with a season that ends before Labor Day.

The fact that the quota may rise does not guarantee the limits will be eased, however. The 2009 quota was higher than the 2008 quota, but anglers were forced into a shorter season and lower bag limit because regulators claimed the 2008 quota was “overfished.” If a similar conclusion is reached regarding the 2009 season, there may not be any relief despite a much larger quota. Still, most experts agree there will be at least some form of loosening restrictions next season through some combination of changing bag, season and size limitations.

The heavily restrictive summer flounder limits are largely a product of the 1996 Magnuson-Stevens Act, a law that imposes strict and what many believe to be arbitrary regulations on fish stocks. Though summer flounder stocks are currently at some of their highest levels in recorded history, the restrictions are in place because those numbers do not meet the ambitious levels the law requires. Some environmental groups - notably the Pew Environmental Trust - have argued in favor of the restrictions on fishing. Meanwhile, a bill sponsored by Rep. Frank Pallone [D-6] and Sen. Charles Schumer [D-NY] is pending in both houses of the federal legislature to loosen the restrictions imposed by the Magnuson-Stevens Act that would allow an easing of fishing limitations so long as the stocks remain healthy and growing. The Pew group has been actively fighting the bill.

Anglers will have to wait some time to find out the 2010 regulations. Normally, there are a series of meetings throughout the fall season to determine the previous summer’s catch before scientists develop limits to meet the quota numbers required by law. The quota levels are then sent to each state to determine final limit schemes. In New Jersey, the limits are ususally voted on at the February meeting of the New Jersey Marine Fisheries Council. •