ACTION REQUEST- ASMFC Draft Addendum VI to Amendment 6

Stripers Forever Favors Equitable Harvest Reduction for Wild Atlantic Striped Bass Management Plan

Option Two Mandates 18% Cut for Commercial Fishermen and Recreational Anglers

Stripers Forever, an international conservation organization fighting for the future of wild Atlantic striped bass, endorses Option Two of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s (ASMFC) Draft Addendum VI to Amendment 6 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Striped Bass. Stripers Forever also supports mandating the use of “circle hooks” for both recreational and hook-and-line commercial fishermen using bait.

Stripers Forever urges its members and all others interested in protecting wild Atlantic striped bass to write the ASMFC and state delegations to the Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board and request they do the same. The public comment period for Addendum VI to Amendment 6 ends at 5:00pm EST on October 7, 2019.

Option Two requires changes to current regulations resulting in an equitable 18% reduction in recreational and commercial harvest of striped bass. According to the Draft Addendum:

Option 2: Equal Percent Reductions

An 18% reduction in total removals relative to 2017 levels to reduce F to the target in 2020 where the desired percent reduction is applied equally (proportionally) to both the commercial and recreational sectors; both sectors would take an 18% reduction from 2017 levels. Under all sub-options, states have the flexibility to develop alternative regulations through conservation equivalency, including the allocation of the required reductions between the commercial and recreational sectors.

Option One would maintain the status quo. Option Three would cut the commercial harvest by only 1.8% and require the recreational angling community make up the difference to achieve an overall 18% reduction in total harvest.

Stripers Forever has no preference for the sub-options creating minimum/maximum length “slot limits” for recreationally caught striped bass under Option Two. However, the organization believes all states should require anglers using bait to use circle hooks, which have been proven to increase a fish’s chances of survival after release, as described under Option Three (3.2 Circle Hook Provision).

“Although we are disappointed that the proposed changes to striped bass regulations are not more aggressive, Stripers Forever believes that the changes described in Option Two are the fairest. Long term, we remain committed to seeing wild Atlantic striped bass designated as game fish along the entire Eastern Seaboard,” said Brad Burns, president, Stripers Forever.

  Submit your comments to the ASMFC:

Mail:

Max Appelman, FMP Coordinator

1050 North Highland Street Suite 200A-N

Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission

Arlington, VA 22201

Phone: (703) 842-0740

Fax: (703) 842-0741

Email:

comments@asmfc.org (Subject: Striped Bass Draft Addendum VI)

In Person:

Draft Addendum VI was initiated in response to the 2018 Benchmark Stock Assessment, which indicates the resource is overfished and experiencing overfishing. The Draft Addendum explores a range of management alternatives designed to end overfishing and reduce fishing mortality to the target level in 2020.

The Draft Addendum proposes management options for both commercial and recreational sectors in the ocean and in Chesapeake Bay in order to reduce total fishery removals by 18% relative to 2017 levels. The proposed measures include reduced quotas for commercial fisheries, and changes in bag limits, minimum sizes, and slot size limits for the recreational sector. Since catch and release practices represent a significant component of overall fishing mortality, the Draft Addendum also explores the mandatory use of circle hooks when fishing with bait to reduce release mortality in recreational striped bass fisheries.

Draft Addendum VI is available at http://www.asmfc.org/files/PublicInput/StripedBassDraftAddVI_PublicComment_Aug2019.pdf or via the Commission’s website at http://www.asmfc.org/about-us/public-input. Fishermen and other stakeholders are encouraged to provide input on Draft Addendum VI either by attending state public hearings or providing written comment. Public comment will be accepted until 5 PM (EST) on October 7, 2019 and should be sent to Max Appelman, Fishery Management Plan Coordinator, 1050 N. Highland St, Suite A-N, Arlington, VA 22201; 703.842.0741 (FAX) or at comments@asmfc.org (Subject line: Striped Bass Draft Addendum VI).

Please contact us at striper@stripersforever.org with any questions.