Federal regulators took steps to bring the striped bass population back from the brink last month when the Atlantic State Marine Fisheries Commission voted to approve restrictions on the size of fish recreational fishermen are allowed to keep.
The new regulation makes permanent the emergency actions to protect the striper stock taken by the ASMFC this summer. Recreational fishermen will be restricted to keep one fish a day between 28 and 31 inches during the season.
“We’re putting in rules to control fishing mortality, so we have a shot at keeping this stock healthy,” said Michael Armstrong, the deputy director at the state Department of Marine Fisheries who also serves on the ASMFC.
Now that the commission has approved the regulations, state level departments will be required to put them in place.
The restrictive size limits are meant to protect the class of striped bass spawned in 2015 – the last strong spawning year from the species.
New rules voted on by the commission will also restrict the harvest for commercial striped bass fishermen, Mr. Armstrong said, reducing each state’s harvest quota by 7 per cent, or about 650,000 pounds for Massachusetts.
Despite that commercial reduction, Mr. Armstrong said, the primary threat to the species remains on the recreational side, both from the harvest and from unintentional kills that come as a result of catch-and-release.
“Coastwide, commercial only accounts for around 10 per cent mortality,” he said. “There’s just so many people fishing.”
Commercial fishermen in Massachusetts can only keep striped bass over 35 inches long, also keeping them from harvesting from the 2015 class.
Striped bass had previously been lauded as a major success for fisheries conservation. The species came close to extinction before a fishing moratorium led the species to make a recovery in the 1980s.
Since that initial recovery, though, the species has gone back into decline.
“It’s been declining for over 10 years now,” Mr. Armstrong said. “Recently, there’s been some, really horrendous, worrisome spawning out of Chesapeake Bay.”
In addition to high mortality from the recreational fishery, environmental conditions have also contributed to the fishery’s precarious position, Mr. Armstrong said. A recent trend toward warm, dry springs have affected the salinity levels in habitats, like the Chesapeake Bay, where larval striped bass thrive, further stacking the cards against the species.
“I’m worried, very worried, about our ability to even maintain the stock, even if we went to catch and release only,” he said. “The whole system has changed because of climate change.”
Regardless of the environmental challenges, Mr. Armstrong said the new regulations give the fishery the best chance to recover by the target date of 2029.
“We’re putting in rules to control fishing mortality, so we have a shot at keeping this stock healthy,” he said. “The only thing we can do is control the harvest, and preserve as much spawning stock biomass as we can.”
Comments
They should shut down
John Jones Cape CodThey should shut down commercial striper, fishing ones that are wrecking it for everybody Think about it 35+ inches to keep and I think they can keep 15 two times a week. The recreational fisherman probably fishes one day a week if he’s lucky.
The article clearly states
Ed West TisburyThe article clearly states that the commercial harvest accounts for 10% of the mortality. You are not going to solve a ten year decline in striped bass abundance by leaving 90% of the mortality untouched. Recreational fishermen have to significantly contribute to the reduction in mortality in order for striped bass abundance to increase.
Close them both down for 3
Jim the whale guyClose them both down for 3 years.
What I don't get is why is
tom BostonWhat I don't get is why is the Jersey Shore teeming with stripers? I've never seen anything like it and from spring right into December. And an amazing amount a big fish. And those big recreational boats seem to be doing quite a bit of damage. They are throwing fish back from upper decks. How can that be good for the fish?
I will happily take all my
Mr. B. ChilmarkI will happily take all my business to any fish market that will no longer sell striper. Our family gave up eating it three years ago.
I do not believe this report
Bob EdgartownI do not believe this report for one second commercial fisherman are the real problem turn it into a game fish and stop all commercial harvest full stop.
It’s both, look at the actual
R Scott Patterson EdgartownIt’s both, look at the actual data. The commercial guys blame the recreational guys and the recreational guys blame the commercial guys. IT’S BOTH!
28-31 inches is fine w/me.
Jim grady Teaticket ma28-31 inches is fine w/me. Why would you want to kill a fish at or approaching breeding size? Discontinue all commercial striped bass harvesting.
Close all striper fishing for
Michael Rapoza Swansea,maClose all striper fishing for at 3 years. Especially commercial fishery.
It doesn't make any sense to let commercial fisherman keep fish over 35".
Those fish lay the most eggs.
Years ago when Connecticut
Jim MassachusettsYears ago when Connecticut harvest was lowered. The stripper fishing improved dramatically. There is way to many commercial fisherman in Connecticut. It’s not worth going out as a recreational fisherman for at least. Last five years. Recreational fisherman don’t come close to damaging the striped bass population as much as what commercial fisherman do. That was proven in the 80s or 90s when Connecticut was under restrictions. Let’s put the fault where it belongs.
I’m not a biologist but I
Michael Washington DCI’m not a biologist but I instantly recognized this statement as inaccurate:
“Commercial fishermen in Massachusetts can only keep striped bass over 35 inches long, also keeping them from harvesting from the 2015 class.”
You’re implying the entire 2015 year class is under 35”? Please correct this. How we can get simple facts like this wrong in the year 2024 is evidence of why the striper population is so doomed.
This is one fishery failure
Capt.Paul Eidman Raritan Bay NJThis is one fishery failure that we (recreational anglers) can't and shouldn't be blaming on the commercial sector. Rec anglers are responsible for 90% of the harvest coastwide. Here in Northern NJ, Rec anglers have been slamming these fish, and six-pack charter boats are running multiple trips daily and taking limits 7 days a week, and that's adding extra bass each trip for the Capt and mate during the pre-spawn stack up. It's up to all of us, especially the guys running charters to do our part and respect the resource and now more than ever TEACH others how to treat bass with care and correctly revive and release bass, every single time.
I think we should look at the
Paul c MassI think we should look at the numbers of seals in Massachusetts they are a protected species since the 1970s the populations are through the roof and so aren’t a great white shark I’ve seen seals-in the Cape Cod canal surface with a striper in its mouth bite it in
half eat 1/2 and then the other why doesn’t anybody ever mention the seals as an issue is beyond me
Paul, you nailed it on the
Gerry MAPaul, you nailed it on the head here. And the seals not only are doing damage to the striper population, they eat everything, shellfish, lobster, anything they can catch they eat. The way over population of seals is seriously affecting the ecosystem on the eastern seaboard. Need to cull the seals.
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