Striped Bass Roll-Over Quota!

[Mattb]

Originally Posted by RJ

Until I see proof and not "feelings" that the striped bass population is in danger or in a decline I 'm not leaning towards a drastic step to eleminate the commerical component of the striped bass policy for the Atlantic Coast.

RJ - if you read the latest assessment or talk to any of the members of the technical committee - there's a very real and growing concern that the Chesapeake portion of the stock is in big trouble. The Hudson stock is going gangbusters, so NY bight fisheries are doing OK on the strength of the local fish, but if you look at fisheries dependent on the Chessie stock, you'll see that there's a crash in progress.

Maine's 2008 release numbers were roughly 10% of the 2006 numbers, and 2009 wasn't much better than 2008. NH is in the same boat.

Mycobacteriosis could have a mortality rate of 100%, and significant numbers of resident fish in the Chesapeake are infected. Combine the growing natural mortality from Myco with a number of below average spawns and high fishing mortality, and you've got a recipe for disaster. We got luck with a few good spawns last time there was a crash in the Chessie, and rebuilt the fishery on the backs of those few year classes. Is that a gamble you're willing to take again?