August 6, 2014 — Many anglers and conservation groups are putting pressure on fish managers to tighten limits on recreational and commercial fishing of striped bass. Recreational fishermen who target striped bass (particularly from shore) have witnessed a sharp decline in the species. Avid shore anglers who once caught and released as many as 500 fish a year are now catching fewer than 100. The pressure for more conservation has had its impact on the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, which manages striped bass in the region.
The 2013 striped bass stock assessment released earlier this year indicates the resource in not overfished or experiencing overfishing. However, the female spawning stock biomass (SSB) has continued to decline since 2004 and is estimated at 128 million pounds, below the target of 159 million pounds.
Additionally, total fishing mortality is estimated at 0.20, a value that is between the proposed new fishing mortality threshold (0.219) and fishing mortality target (0.18).
The marine fisheries commission’s Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board approved the benchmark stock assessment for management use earlier this year. This week, the commission is considering measures to reach these new SSB and fishing mortality targets. These will likely translate into new, more restrictive, regulations.
The question is, what options commission approve for public comment? I read several of the letters the commission received from U.S. senators, fishing clubs and conservation groups prior to its meeting this week. These included 20 letters from one group, 40 from another and a petition with 1,429 signatures advocating for a reduction from two fish at 28-inch minimum size to one fish at 32-inch minimum size in 2015. Most of the petitions and letters advocated for more restrictive striped bass regulations as soon as possible.
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