Striped Bass Management Update from Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries

The Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) has distributed an replace on striped bass administration:

As we speak, we’re writing to replace you about some of the widespread fisheries in Massachusetts and your entire east coast of the USA, striped bass. As you doubtless know, striped bass have been below a rebuilding plan since 2019, resulting in rising administration over the previous 5 years. Final month, the newest striped bass inventory evaluation performed by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Fee (ASMFC) was launched; this report sheds gentle on the flexibility of the present coastwide administration program to rebuild the inventory. Sadly, the outcomes of the replace are usually not all promising and there may be the prospect of further striped bass fishery restrictions within the coming years, probably even in 2025.

On the constructive facet, the biomass of mature feminine fish within the inhabitants (which is used to find out inventory standing) has been rising since 2018, though it’s nonetheless barely beneath the extent wanted to cease referring to the inventory as “overfished.” Moreover, the restrictions applied in 2020, 2023, and 2024 have been profitable in reducing fishing mortality to focus on ranges. Primarily based on these outcomes, administration modifications are usually not mandated below the interstate fishery administration plan. Nevertheless, there may be concern about whether or not the present administration program will result in inventory rebuilding within the face of anticipated inhabitants tendencies over the following 5 years.

First, fishing mortality is predicted to extend in 2025–2026 because the 2018 year-class, the one above common group of recruits since 2015, grows into harvestable measurement within the ocean leisure fishery. Whereas it is a short-term impact, particular person years of overfishing can jeopardize the inventory’s constructive trajectory. After 2025–2026, there’ll doubtless be a longer-term destructive impact from the previous six years of very low juvenile manufacturing from the main spawning grounds within the Chesapeake Bay estuary. The dearth of sturdy 12 months lessons recruiting into the fishery might require a decrease charge of fishery removals within the years forward.

After reviewing these leads to October, the ASMFC’s Striped Bass Administration Board determined to schedule a particular assembly on December 16 to additional evaluate the necessity and choices for brand new laws in 2025. Within the interim, the Administration Board’s scientific advisors will evaluate the newest catch estimates for 2024, replace their vary of situations for the place the inventory could possibly be headed, and analyze a number of varieties of further administration measures for attainable coastwide administration motion. This data might be made obtainable in a technical report by early December.

Earlier than the Administration Board assembly happens on December 16, there might be an informational webinar for the general public on December 5 to evaluate the technical report. Whereas public remark is not going to be accepted throughout the informational webinar, written public touch upon the technical report and attainable administration futures is inspired. The deadline for submitting written public remark for the Administration Board’s consideration is December 10 (see e-mail deal with listed beneath). Per the Administration Board’s request, the technical report is predicted to deal with administration choices that embody modifications to the leisure measurement limits or seasons and business quotas.

Thanks on your continued curiosity in Massachusetts’ fisheries and striped bass. The Division seems to be ahead to working with you to search out choices to assist a powerful striped bass inhabitants sooner or later whereas offering alternatives to pursue these magnificent fish. You possibly can contact MA DMF by e-mail at [email protected].