No-Target Fishing Closures on the Table for Striped Bass Anglers

Striped bass fishermen might face stricter rules, together with no-harvest or no-target seasons, in 2025. The potential modifications shall be thought of by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Fee (ASMFC)’s Striped Bass Administration Board at a particular assembly on Dec. 16.

The newest evaluation of the striped bass inhabitants confirmed that striped bass stay overfished. In October, the Striped Bass Administration Board voted to reconvene at a particular assembly to guage potential motion for striped bass to extend the likelihood of rebuilding the inventory by 2029.

In preparation for the assembly, scientists on ASMFC’s Technical Committee ready rebuilding projections for various totally different situations with administration choices the Board might take into account to scale back fishing mortality. They embody potential modifications to leisure measurement limits, seasonal no-harvest closures, and seasonal no-target closures.

ASMFC held an informational webinar on the striped bass choices Dec. 5. A recording of the webinar will be discovered right here.

Communicate up: Public feedback on proposed administration choices shall be accepted through electronic mail to feedback@asmfc.org by way of Dec. 10.

Learn On The Water’s remark letter beneath:

December 9, 2024

Pricey Ms. Franke and the ASMFC Atlantic Striped Bass Administration Board:

Thanks for the chance to touch upon the 2025 administration actions being mentioned on the December 16, 2024 Striped Bass Administration Board assembly.

I’m the Writer/Proprietor of On The Water Media, which incorporates On The Water Journal, On The Water’s Angling Adventures TV present, the Striper Cup match, and the StriperFest occasion. On The Water was launched on Cape Cod in 1996 and has grown for the previous 28 years to cowl all waters the place Atlantic striped bass swim. Like so many different fishing- and tourism-related companies in our area, our existence relies upon upon the abundance of striped bass.

There’s maybe no higher instance of the financial significance of an ample striper inventory than our Striper Cup. The 5-month match started with a standard weigh-in format in 2006, however participation grew sharply after we transformed to a catch-and-release format in 2016. It has attracted help from nationwide sponsors and grown to over 5,000 individuals.

I applaud the Board for its dedication to rebuilding the Atlantic striped bass inventory by 2029. Nonetheless, I stay deeply involved in regards to the long-term implications for the Spawning Inventory Biomass (SSB), as six consecutive years of poor spawns will severely impression the inventory within the coming years.

Leisure anglers have led the best way on conservation, overwhelmingly supporting regulatory measures like the present restrictive slot restrict and voluntary efforts to scale back launch mortality. Additional lowering harvest alternatives for leisure anglers is a choice to not be taken flippantly, as it’s going to undoubtedly trigger ache for some for-hire operations and impression the leisure fishing economic system. Nonetheless, in the case of striped bass, a largely catch-and-release fishery with outsized significance to Atlantic coast leisure fishermen and the leisure fishing economic system, assembly conservation objectives to keep up a strong fishery have to be the precedence.

Enter on Administration Choices

I Strongly Oppose No-Concentrating on Closures

Giant-scale no-targeting closures aren’t a viable choice as they’re nearly unenforceable. They’d trigger vital financial impression to for-hire captains, the boating trade, gear producers, deal with retailers, and tourism.

I Urge Equal Industrial and Leisure Reductions

If the board decides on a % discount, it have to be equal throughout sectors. Industrial reductions should come off harvest and never unused quota.

I Help Equitable No-Harvest Closures

Whereas lowering angler entry to reap striped bass is a sacrifice, no-harvest closures are strongly most popular over no-targeting closures. Nonetheless, such closures have to be equitable and never unfairly burden anglers in states with shorter fishing seasons, decrease harvest charges, and fewer entry to the fishery.

I Help Sustaining or Narrowing the Slot Restrict

I help both sustaining the slot restrict or narrowing it if obligatory to scale back removals. I’m involved by proposals to decrease the slot restrict to focus on immature fish as smaller striped bass are extra accessible to anglers, seemingly leading to elevated removals.

Thanks to your consideration of my feedback.

Chris Megan

On The Water Media