Striped Bass Roll-Over Quota!

[Capt.Castafly]

The meeting of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission took place on Monday, November 2nd at Goat Island, Newport Rhode Island. There was a lengthy delay of some thirty minutes before the proceedings. I surmise this time was spent as a last minute attempt to align constituents. Finally at 1:45 pm the meeting began.

The usually business was reported by several advisory groups to the whole panel. A synopsis of the current striper stock was given in chart form using PowerPoint. Most charts were too small for all to see. Two of the more interesting discussions were centered on the Microbacterialosis and poaching issues. More investigating was required. No one knew the direct impact on either topic but felt it was substantial on the stock assessment. Further studies were recommended. Discussion tabled.

Finally after more than an hour and half, the debate about Article II began. Several constituents made opening statements. Those in favor of the “Roll over Quota” seem to center around the scientific studies done in various areas. Their argument was the numbers were not below the level of sustaining the level of striped bass. All but three studies done by most of the coastal states showed a decline. Maryland, Connecticut, and New York showed a slight increase. There argument, the committee policy dictates a three year norm of a negative slope before any changes can be made.

Those against the “Roll Over” expressed their views by the current trends of the fishery. Most constituent’s felt that their views were a representation of the populous of fishermen given thru e-mails, letters, and phone call. The public attending were given only a small amount of time for discussion. Only three were given the opportunity to speak. Finally after lengthy discussions and a one minute caucus the roll call vote was polled individually by each coastal state. Final tally count for Amendment II, four in favor of a roll-over, eleven were against.

Immediately afterward, the principle supporter of the amendment asked to make revisions. After lengthy discussions and another panel vote, she was ruled “out of order with parliamentary procedures.

The recreational anglers, who care about the future stock of striped bass, know that this is not the end. Commercials will test the water again either by extending the seasons, larger quotas, or size limits, possible trying to enlarge the Exclusive Economic Zone. Most rec's are willing to make concessions if in fact it benifits the stock.

Capt. Doug Jewett from Brunswick, ME came a long way to express his views and opinions. Doug eloquently expressed the poor conditions along the Maine and New Hampshire coast the last few seasons. He handed out ball caps with the theme “No Roll Over” that helped give a visual message of those in attendance. If you have a love/passion about striped bass you need to stay informed on the subject.

[BrianBM]

Thank you for this post.

Most of us, definitely including me, are guilty of paying less attention to the issue of striped bass conservation then we ought to do. The higher the level of the policy debate, the less we notice. I doubt that I'd've noticed that this meeting had happened, without your note.

[CTaylor]

Thanks for the update Captain.

[Northfork]

If you're interested in this subject - saving Striped Bass - go to the Reel Time forum, specifically the New England forum. The discussion goes on for awhile. Reminds me of the fight many years ago about saving this magnificient fish.

[brushfly]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 3, 2009 CONTACT: Ted Venker, 1-800-201-FISH

ASFMC Denies Increase in Commercial Striped Bass Harvest
Anglers rally to defeat proposal for commercial sector to kill more fish

Coastal Conservation Association commends the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) for denying a proposal to increase the commercial harvest of striped bass at its meeting this week in Newport, Rhode Island. The proposal would have allowed commercial fishermen to add at least half of their uncaught commercial striped bass quota to their quota for the following year. Many anglers from CCA Maine made the journey to Newport to express their concern over the status of this important fish, and their voice made a difference.
"The Striped Bass Board understands that anglers at the north and south of the striped bass range are not seeing the numbers of fish they saw even just a few years ago," said Richen Brame, CCA’s Atlantic States fisheries director. "There is cause for concern and we commend the ASMFC for taking a conservative approach."
In its formal comments before the ASMFC against the proposal, CCA cited several disturbing trends in the striped bass fishery, including a dramatic decrease in the number of striped bass caught and released by recreational fishermen, particularly in the northeastern states of New Hampshire and Maine, the prevalence of the fatal disease Mycobacteriosis among the Chesapeake Bay spawning stock, and a Fish and Wildlife Service annual survey that encountered the fewest striped bass in the survey’s history.
“While officially the stock is not overfished and not undergoing overfishing, there are signs that the overall abundance is declining,” said Brame. “The proposed action to allow the commercial industry to take more fish was not a remedy for any of the problems we are seeing with striped bass. Increasing abundance is what will fix those problems.”
While the motion was defeated by a vote of 8-6, the margin of the victory means recreational anglers will have to maintain vigilance at the ASMFC to protect the recovery of striped bass.
“After the vote on the original motion, there was immediately another motion to allow the commercial sector to rollover 25 percent of their uncaught harvest to the next year, which was also defeated,” said Brame. “We will continue to see efforts like this and it was very encouraging to hear Board members remark on the number of comments they received against this proposal from the public. Our members will have to be ready to stand up for conservation.”
The following states voted against the rollover proposal: Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia. Voting for the proposal were Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, Potomac River Fisheries Commission, North Carolina and the National Marine Fisheries Service. The Fish and Wildlife Service abstained.

###

CCA is the largest marine resource conservation group of its kind in the nation. With almost 100,000 members in 17 state chapters, CCA has been active in state, national and international fisheries management issues since 1977. Visit www.JoinCCA.org for more information.




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[Mattb]

Thanks for posting this in here Castafly. There has been some discussion here on SOL in the ME/NH forum and in the Main forum, but I didn't think to cross-post in here too.

It's tough - SOL's so big that it seems to have gotten Balkanized to a certain extent, and it's tough to get an all-encompassing issue like this the attention it needs.

Defeating Addendum 2 was a good first step, but unfortunately, that's all it was. We really need to force the managers ('cause they've made it clear they won't do it on their own) to adopt more conservative managment policies to stop the tailspin the stripers are in right now.

[RJ]

Thank's Ray.

I agree withthe Zero Roll Over vote. Who were the States that voted for it?

[Capt.Castafly]

The following states voted against the rollover proposal: Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia.

Voting for the proposal were Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, Potomac River Fisheries Commission, North Carolina and the National Marine Fisheries Service.

The Fish and Wildlife Service abstained.

[rollincoal]

Thank-you for posting this.

How is it possible that the commercial fisherman haven't maxed out their quota for the previous year? That alone doesn't seem to make sense.

[greenie]

Recreational fishermen and guides thereof need to stay informed on this issue. One way to do so at no cost to you is to sign up for stripers forever e-mail list. There may be other organizations that follow the issue as well. Regardless of political persuasion, we all like to fish and need to be ready to speak up for our recreation.

As I posted previously, this winter would be a good time to read Ted Williams article in Fly Rod and Reel summer issue, and Striper Wars, a 2005 book that is still applicable to the state of striped bass and the politics driving this fishery management decisions.

[greenie]

rollincoal, that coms are not meeting current quota suggests there are fewer stripers, not more. However, some coms appear to think the bass are" just out to sea" just waiting to be caught.

I would like to think that there is a way to manage the species to ensure future stocks for all concerned.

[John P]

I am thankful for the work the people are doing to make people aware of this important issue and helping to defeat this change of regs.

I can't fathom the ct,ny vote for this reg. We have some work to do to put pressure on these people. Do we know who represented CT and NY? JP

[Mattb]

Originally Posted by John P

Do we know who represented CT and NY? JP

In NY, Pat Augustine was pushing the issue pretty hard, even going to far as to delivery a lecture about the unfairness of it all after the measure was defeated.

In CT, it was Dave Simpson doing most of the talking.

You can find all your ASMFC commissioners at http://www.asmfc.org/commissioners.htm

[rollincoal]

Originally Posted by greenie

rollincoal, that coms are not meeting current quota suggests there are fewer stripers, not more. However, some coms appear to think the bass are" just out to sea" just waiting to be caught.

I would like to think that there is a way to manage the species to ensure future stocks for all concerned.

or they are taking everyone for fools with the reported take; as a former commercial i find it hard to believe they didn't take all they legally could regardless of a population decline or a more fish being offshore beyond legal limits.

[RJ]

Study the length of the various state striped bass seasons and you will find a much shorter window than we have. If the fish are not in their specific area during the open season (commerical fishing) they cannot make the quota.

I don't speak for the NY deligation or the biologists - I believe the facts that the ASMFC determination that the striped bass population are not in decline nor are they over fished has a lot to do with the NY Vote.

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.

Having spent 14 years on a Managenent Advisory Committee defending recreational hunting and fishing from the anti-sportsmen's members on that board and the crowds they sometimes produced to "close this and stop that"
with emotional crys of "the sky is falling" about deer, turkey, bear, geese and ducks. I may be overly sensitive to any individuals or organizations who paint a negative picture about striped bass when I know the species has recovered from a low of 4.8 million fish in 1986 to the 2008 population estimate of 67.8 milion striped bass in the 7 major striped bass populations combined. Those "sportsmen" who claim to know better and try overtly or covertly strive to undermine state or federal biologist leave a bad taste in my mouth. They say a lot, but attack the gathered numbers and professional conclusions or opinions that don't fit in their particular policy goals. I don't see any numbers coming from some of those "Save the Striper" orgs. that counter the offical numbers produced by the state and federal professionals.

For all of my opinions on the above, I still do not believe commercial fishing should get a roll over into next years quota for any species.

It leaves wiggle room for unscrupulious or lazy commercial anglers to get a reward for sitting in port and not fishing becase fuel is too high, or they had a bad night in the local tavern or any number of excuses the few lazy commercial fishing professionals need to stay in port..