Fish On Regional Commission mandates drastic reduction on blackfish RON NUZZOLO Time is running out for New Jersey recreational anglers. Just when fishing seemed to be healthy in all categories, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) mandates a reduction in blackfish by almost 26 percent. On March 7, New Jersey has 60 days in which to come up with a plan agreed by ASMFC or the fishery will be shut down. States such as Massachusetts and Rhode Island were forced to cut back and settled on a 12 percent reduction. The problem is with the commercial fishermen who pot and net blackfish for the live blackfish market and will not be affected by the 26 percent reduction or shutdown. This is where it gets heated. How can anyone in their right mind think or assume that recreational fishermen can reduce the overall stock biomass over the impact of commercial potters and netters. This is mind-boggling to all fishermen when there already is a four-fish, 14-inch limit in place. One pot can catch a dozen and one net can catch several dozen. Where is the logic in all this? To add even more salt to the wound, the ASMFC's tautog (blackfish) board has quoted that recreational fishermen are responsible for 90 percent of the blackfish harvest. I personally find this to be a disturbing uphill battle. The true issue is the illegal trade in the live blackfish market. James A. Donofrio, executive director of the Recreational Fishing Alliance, is upset due to the constant pressure applied to recreational anglers when all around us are illegal and undocumented trade in live blackfish throughout the coast. According toMr. Donofrio, "There were no problems with blackfish until that live market opened up." Commercial potters, roller-riggers, trawlers - none of them were interested in blackfish years ago. There was no market for blackfish - live or dead." Mr. Donofrio also reported that New Jersey officials do not know how many fishermen are involved in the commercial fishery or how much gear the licensed fishermen are employing. "They have no idea whether some of these people have 10 pots or 10,000 pots out there," he said. His answer is to make the blackfish a game fish by state law, and prohibit the possession of any live blackfish. "This has to be done by law - the council can't do it," he said. "But it must be done. Once the commercial harvest is prohibited, then the recreational side must be cut back until overfishing is not occurring." At the end of the day we need to find answers. Summer Flounder (Fluke) are also on the chopping block once again and I will leave that for another day. The problem is with all the regulations applied to the recreational fisherman, the true resources are overlooking the illegal and commercial trade of our fish stocks. This is only one fish, we need to go after the illegal trade first not the recreational fishermen who want to take their families out on boats or beaches to bond and build strong family values and traditions. Fish on.