A public comment period has opened on the development of the most significant amendment to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Striped Bass in nearly 20 years.
The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission has released management plan’s Draft Amendment 7, which would replace Amendment 6, adopted in 2003. The public comment period on Draft Amendment 7 will close April 15.
One of the major objectives of Amendment 7 is to address recreational release mortality in the Atlantic Striped Bass fishery. Recreational release mortality refers to fish that die after being caught and released by recreational fishermen.
The striped bass fishery is predominantly recreational, according to the new draft amendment, released late last month. Recreational fishing accounted for 87% of total Atlantic striped bass removals in 2020, and over 80% each year since 1985.
An “overwhelming majority of the catch is released alive,” according to the document — roughly 90% annually since 1990 — “either due to cultural preferences (i.e., fishing with the intent to catch and release striped bass) or regulation (e.g., the fish is not of legal size).”
The overlay catch and release mortality rate is an estimated 9%, which represents 54% of total striped bass removals in 2020. In other words, 54% of the striped bass removed from the fishery in 2020 died after being caught and released by recreational fishermen, while 33% were harvested by recreational fishermen. Commercial fishing resulted in just 11% of the 2020 harvest and commercial discards a mere 1%.
The proportions of recreational release mortality have been rising, and have represented the majority of of recreational removals since 2017.
A 2018 benchmark stock assessment indicated the striped bass stock has been overfished since 2013 and experiencing overfishing, according to the commission’s Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board.
A 2020 addendum to Amendment 6 requires the mandatory use of circle hooks when fishing for striped bass with bait to reduce release mortality.
The 149-page Draft Amendment 7 document examines various options to rebuild the striped bass biomass to the target level set by the board by 2029. Draft Amendment 7 considers management measures to address recreational release mortality, including gear restrictions (i.e. circle hooks), bag and size limits, public education and outreach, and seasonal closures.
Seasonal no-target closures are intended to reduce number of live releases by reducing the number of fishing trips interacting with striped bass, the document states. Closures would occur at different times in different states in the region, based on when the striped bass fishery is most active.
The seasonal no-target closures would prohibit all recreational targeting of striped bass for a minimum two-week period during times when the striped bass fishery is particularly active in each state.
The draft sets forth two options for determining the timing of seasonal closures. One would require a two-week closure during a period when at least 25% of the state’s striped bass-directed trips occur; in New York that period is May-June. The other option requires a two-week closure during a period when at least 15% of the state’s striped bass-directed trips occur; in New York that would be any time other than January-February and July-August.
Recreational striped bass fishing is a huge economic generator in the region (North Carolina to Maine), contributing $7.7 billion and supporting 104,867 jobs, according to a report cited in the draft amendment.
Draft Amendment 7 acknowledges that seasonal closures at peak times would have economic impacts on the fishery and the region.
View/download Draft Amendment 7 here.
The State Department of Environmental Conservation has scheduled two public comment hearings on the development of the draft amendment. The meeting on Long Island will be held on March 16, from 6 to 8 p.m. at DEC Division of Marine Resources, 123 Kings Park Blvd, Kings Park.
Audio from the hearings will be livestreamed. Links and more information are available on the DEC’s website.
Public comments may also be be made in writing, as follows:
By email: comments@asmfc.org (Type “Draft Amendment 7” in the email subject line.)
By postal mail or delivery to: Emilie Franke, Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, 1050 N. Highland Street, Suite 200 A-N, Arlington VA. 22201
By fax to: (703)842-0741.
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