In a few years when we understand these patterns better we hope to be able to publish opening dates for each area in the rules pamphlet. In the meantime, we have some ideas about how to describe area openings in the pamphlet that should help reduce the confusion. One way to maximize fishing opportunities for everyone during those seasons and meet the resource conservation goals is to establish annual quotas for all fisheries in a given area, Veneroso said. That way, all sectors of the fishery recreational, commercial and tribal will know what their share of the catch is before the season gets under way, she said. That's something we plan to talk to people about at the upcoming public meetings.
Quotas have limited use unless people have access to the resource.