Old Lyme — The state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection's Marine Fisheries Program will host a public meeting at 7 p.m. Feb. 22 to hear input on 2017 management options to comply with the joint Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council / Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission fishery management plans for summer flounder and black sea bass.

The meeting will take place in the boating education center at DEEP Marine Headquarters, 333 Ferry Road.

According to a news release from DEEP Tuesday, the following changes are under consideration:

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[naviga:li]In August, the ASMFC Board and MAFMC approved an approximate 30 percent reduction in catch limits for both the commercial and recreational fisheries for summer flounder in response to the 2016 stock assessment update, which indicated the resource is experiencing overfishing but is not overfished. To meet the new goals, a 41 percent reduction relative to the 2016 preliminary harvest estimates is needed. To achieve the reduction, the addendum implements a one-inch increase in size limit from 2016 measures for all regions with the exception of North Carolina. Additionally, states in the northern region, which includes Connecticut, will in all likelihood be required to constrain their possession limits to three fish or less, but will be able to maintain 2016 season lengths.

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[naviga:li]For black sea bass, the magnitude of recreational harvest last year dictates that states in the northeast adopt measures that are expected to reduce harvest by 8 percent from 2016. In addition, the board has expressed an interest to have the states within the region have more similar season lengths and possession limits.[/naviga:li]

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