Summer Flounder

2008 Quota Distribution Plan

Proposed Quota Determination

The 2008 quota allocation provided by the United States Department of Commerce, National Marine Fisheries Service to the State of New York is 692,859 pounds. The Hook and Line fishery is allocated 34,642 pounds. Dec's proposed quota distribution plan for summer flounder in 2008 is as follows:

2008 Summer Flounder Commercial Quota Distribution
	Dates	Quota	Initial Trip Limit	% Distri-bution	Trigger	Second Trigger	Trip Limit after Trigger
Period 1	January - February	138,572 lbs	1,000 lbs	20%	N/A	N/A	N/A
Period 2	March - April	110,857 lbs	240 lbs	16%	50%	75%	100/50 lbs
Period 3	May - July	187,072 lbs	90 lbs	27%	50%	75%	70/30 lbs
Period 4	August - October	187,072 lbs	90 lbs	27%	50%	75%	70/30 lbs
Period 5	November - December	69,286 lbs	70 lbs	10%	50%	N/A	30 lbs
Total		629,859 lbs
Hook and Line	May - October	34,642 lbs	60 lbs

The principles governing this draft determination are as follows:

Trip limits will be utilized to spread quota allocation over each period and to avoid closures if possible.
A percent of the period's assigned quota share is set as a trigger to lower the trip limit. When the period landings reach the stated trigger, trip limits will be lowered to avoid over-harvest.
If there is a year-end over-harvest that results in a deduction in the state's quota share for the following year, the deduction will be taken proportionately from each period for which the assigned quota was exceeded.
Overharvest/underharvest from Period 1 will be deducted from Period 5.
Overharvest/underharvest from Periods 2 through 4 will be rolled into the next period.
Any over or under harvest from Period 4 will roll into Period 5. Currently, the Fishery Management Plan does not allow for one year's unused quota to be rolled over to the next year.
A secondary quota trigger of 75% will be in place for Periods 2,3 and 4. When it is projected that that periods quota will reach 75%, the daily trip limit will drop accordingly; Period 2 - 50 lbs, Periods 3 and 4 - 30 lbs.
During an all gear closure, the daily trip limits for fixed gear permit holders in Periods 2, 3 and 4 will be 50, 30 and 30 lbs. respectively.
The final 2008 quota allocation is subject to change by adjustments made by the National Marine Fisheries Service.

The quota distribution plan would take effect on January 1, 2008 and would remain in effect until January 1, 2009 or until determined otherwise, whichever occurs first. The purpose of this distribution is to fully utilize the available quota for the maximum benefit to New York's fishery, and to minimize the likelihood of a closure.