Printer-friendlyEnvironment DEC
From the March 2008 issue
Decline in Population Prompts Lower Limit on Tautog Recreational Catch
With the tautog (blackfish) population in decline, the New York State Department of Conservation (DEC) announced new, emergency regulations to lower the recreational catch limit and shorten the season. The new regulations, effective immediately, lower the catch limit to four per day instead of 10 and move the end of the 2008 season to April 30 from May 31. The minimum size will remain 14 inches.
The new regulations also change the recreational tautog season dates this fall by breaking the season into two portions. Previously, the season ran from Oct. 1 to May 31. Beginning this year, the first portion of the season will run from October 1 to December 20, and the second portion will run from January 17 to April 30.
A popular sportfish, the blackfish population has not increased in the last two decades
Declining Population from Overfishing
The current stock assessment for tautog shows that the population has been overfished, with spawning stock at about one-third of historic levels. Management measures implemented in the late 1990s, as set by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC), have stemmed further population declines but have not been sufficient to rebuild tautog stocks. ASMFC adopts fisheries management plans for individual species or groups of fish. Recent changes to the plan for tautog require states to cut back on the harvest of these fish in order to restore its population. To remain in compliance with the plan, New York State must reduce the tautog recreational catch by 29 percent this year. Any state that doesn't comply could face a federally imposed ban on all fishing for the species.
The new emergency rules are designed to meet the requirements of the management plan while maintaining access to this fishery for most of New York's recreational anglers. The changes have been endorsed by the Marine Resources Advisory Council, which comprises the commercial and recreational fishing industry.
More Information
Meanwhile, DEC is preparing a public information document that will be released later this year to obtain input on additional measures that might help rebuild the local population of this important sport fish. For additional information about the regulations, contact DEC's Marine Resources Division at 631-444-0435.
