cut next year's summer flounder catch by 10 percent

[captadamnj]

The current decision on quota was coming long before any decision was made about 2012 regulations. The 2013 quota is completely unrelated to 2012 regulations. You simply can't relate the two because, at this time, they are completely unrelated. 2012 catch will be integrated in future quota management decisions, but not the 2013 quota. Anyone who makes the argument next year's quota is tied to this year's regulations is grossly misinformed.

What will happen is in December, our 2012 PROJECTED landings will be compared to the 2013 quota. (Irregardless if our 2012 -> 2013 quota went up or down.) If 2012 landings are lower than 2013 quota, we will have the chance to liberalize. If landings = quota, regs will still be same. If landings are greater than quota, then we will reduce.

Keep in mind that the regs for this year were DESIGNED to significantly increase landings from 2011 (by nearly 40%).

As Tony correctly stated, landings numbers are nothing but a roulette wheel or a crap shoot. Any system that samples less than 1% of what it is supposed to be calculating is catastrophically insufficient for to the number management of anything.

If anyone would like to further discuss management, call or e-mail, thanks.