ACTION ALERT- ASMFC Winter Meeting (1/26/22)
ACTION ALERT
ASMFC Winter Meeting of the Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board
1/26/22 | 1:30 – 5 PM EST
Back in March of 2021, the ASMFC published the Draft Amendment 7 PID. While we were hoping to have Draft Amendment 7 released for public comment after the October of 2021 meeting, that did not happen and the proverbial can was kicked farther down the road. There was much discussion and several major components of the amendment were edited, deleted and new sections were added (most importantly protection of the 2015 year class). We can expect to see more tweaking and revising of the draft amendment at tomorrow’s meeting. Here is the draft agenda/meeting overview (starting on page 83) for tomorrow’s meeting. (also at the bottom of this email along with a link to the supplemental materials) The webinar link is below, anyone can join and we strongly encourage you to be part of the process.
Striped Bass were declared overfished with overfishing occurring back in 2018 with the stock assessment accepted by the board in 2019. As you can see below the current schedule for a finalized Amendment 7 is May 2022. With 2022 regulations already in place, states will likely not implement the revised Amendment 7 regulations until 2023. The recovery of the Striped Bass stock is behind schedule based on the required 10 year rebuilding requirement and we need action to be taken ASAP. The recovery of the Striped Bass stock is behind schedule based on the required 10 year rebuilding requirement and we need action to be taken ASAP. While this is a long process, it is a necessary one, we need an amendment that will bring the best possible outcome for the stock. Please do your best to stick with it, when the time comes for your voice to be heard we will surely let you know.
Tomorrow (1/26/22 – 1:30 – 5 PM EST) the ASMFC will hold its winter meeting of the Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board and consider Draft Amendment 7. This will be a consequential meeting and we strongly encourage all who can, to attend and pay close attention. The hope is that this meeting will lead to Draft Amendment 7 being released for public comment. At that time it is all hands on deck, we will all need to do our part to protect the fish we love and speak up louder than ever before. We will do our best to inform our members and followers of what is on the table and offer some guidance in how to comment on Draft Amendment 7.
To register for the live webinar please go here: ASMFC 2022 Winter Meeting
Thank you!
ADDITIONAL LINKS
- Atlantic Striped Bass Board- Draft Agenda/ Meeting Overview/ Main Meeting Materials
- Atlantic Striped Bass Board- Supplemental Materials
ACTION ALERT- ASMFC Fall Meeting
ACTION ALERT
ASMFC Fall Meeting of the Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board
Back in March, when the ASMFC published the Draft Amendment 7 PID, we made the hard call to suggest a harvest moratorium for both the recreational and commercial sectors. This was not something we rushed to judgement on and it came with much discussion and deliberation. We still believe it is the right call and the only foolproof way to restore the Striped Bass stock. Fast forward to today and the recently published Chesapeake Bay 2021 Young-of-Year survey results and that decision makes more sense now than ever before. (see graph below) For the third straight year the YOY number is scary low, this year hitting just 3.2, a dismal result and a bad sign for the overall health of the stock. We need strong conservation action and we need it right NOW.
Tomorrow (10/20/21) the ASMFC will hold its fall meeting of the Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board and consider Draft Amendment 7. This will be a consequential meeting and we strongly encourage all who can, to attend and pay close attention. It is likely that this meeting will lead to Draft Amendment 7 being released for public comment. At that time it is all hands on deck, we will all need to do our part to protect the fish we love and speak up louder than ever before.
To register for the live webinar please go here: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/180425878123839504 (Webinar ID: 349-122-851)
Thank you!
ADDITIONAL LINKS
- Atlantic Striped Bass Board- Draft Agenda/ Meeting Overview/ Main Meeting Materials
- Atlantic Striped Bass Board- Supplemental Materials
The Striped Bass Fishery In Our Hands
Our friends and conservation partner Keep Fish Wet have teamed up with Confluence Collective, Soul Fly Outfitters and Maine based artist and angler Bri Dostie to develop a grassroots campaign to help address recreational catch and release mortality.
The Striped Bass fishery is one of the most popular recreational fisheries in the United States. The most recent ASMFC stock assessment released in 2019 showed that over 41 million fish were caught in the recreational fishery. And as striped bass anglers travel, fish, and shop along the east coast, they inject millions of dollars into local economies.
Currently, Striped Bass populations are at a 25 year low according to the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. While commercial harvest has decreased somewhat and the recreational harvest has been declining steadily since 2015, it’s estimated that the largest portion of mortality in the fishery comes from fish that are caught and released but do not survive. This is where recreational anglers have the ability to play a significant role and create positive change.
Scientist quote: “Just saying practice catch-and-release isn’t good enough, since not all fish that are released survive,” said Dr. Andy Danylchuk, Professor of Fish Conservation at UMass Amherst, and Science Advisor for Keep Fish Wet. “Fortunately, there is a growing body of science showing anglers can making subtle changes in their behavior and how they catch and handle fish that can reduce release mortality and make a meaningful impact of the fishery we all care about”
“If you choose to release a fish and you would like that fish to live and remain healthy, there are some simple science-based steps you can take,” says Sascha Clark Danylchuk, the Executive Director of Keep Fish Wet. The three most important things you can do are to:
- Minimize air exposure
- Avoid dry surfaces
- Release with care
“Scientists know a lot about how human interactions affect the fish we catch, but that information doesn’t help anyone if it stays in a journal article behind a paywall,” said Dostie. “We wanted to make sure every angler is empowered with the information they need to protect the fish they care about — and art is one way to share that information more broadly.”
The Striped Bass fishery is in our hands. We as anglers have the opportunity to improve survival rates by taking care of every fish we encounter. Take these science-informed best practices for handling fish into consideration next time your on the water:
- Consider going barbless for smooth hook-ups and clean hook removals. If you’re using live bait, use circle hooks.
- Limit fight time: every second on our line adds stress and takes energy from the fish, leaving them with less for recovery.
- Use a net: this can bring fish in fast and is especially helpful when fishing from a boat. Rubberized nets are best, as they do less damage to fins and slime. By using a net we can also keep the fish submerged while removing the hook safely.
- Remove hooks gently: if needed use a tool and cut the line if deeply hooked.
- Minimize air exposure and Avoid Dry Surfaces: 10 seconds out of the water in total, just enough time to remove that hook, snap a quick photo, and prepare for release.
- Hold fish with 2 wet hands to support their weight out of the water, keeping the fish secure while not removing too much protective slime.
- Holding fish horizontally helps avoid damage to the skeletal and organ systems.
- Release with care! Holding a fish by their lip or tail is best, making gripping tools irrelevant. Only revive fish that cannot swim on their own.
The state of the fishery is truly in our hands, even a small improvement in catch and release mortality would have a huge impact in the overall health of the stock. For more information please check out the Stripers In Our Hands page on the Keep Fish Wet website.
ACTION ALERT- MADMF ADDING COMMERCIAL FISHING DAYS
ACTION ALERT
Oppose Plans to Increase Commercial Fishing Pressure on Striped Bass
Once again, the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) has proposed changes to the commercial striped bass fishing regulations for 2021, specifically intended to increase the harvest of breeder-sized Striped Bass.
If adopted, the changes will open the season earlier, add more days to the fishing week, and automatically add additional days—up to seven—if the quota is not on pace to be filled. Their justification is that economic hardships due to COVID-19 compel DMF to open the regulations to aid commercial fishermen.
Stripers Forever believes this policy is reckless and in direct opposition to the ASMFC’s current efforts to amend its policies to protect and restore Striped Bass to abundance. The ASMFC has declared striped bass “overfished, and overfishing is occurring,” and yet DMF wants to increase commercial fishing pressure.
The state is currently taking written public comments on this policy and will hold a virtual public hearing (link to register below) on Monday, March 29 at 6pm. We urge all members of Stripers Forever to write in opposition to this proposal and to register to attend the hearing and voice your opposition as well. Here is a link to the notice of public hearing for the draft regulation amendment.
PLEASE ACT NOW! SUBMIT YOUR COMMENTS TO THE MADMF:
The DMF is accepting written public comment on these proposals through Friday April 2, 2021.
ADDRESS ALL COMMENTS TO: Director Dan McKiernan
EMAIL: marine.fish@mass.gov
POST MAIL: 251 Causeway Street, Suite 400, Boston, MA 02114
REGISTRATION LINK FOR THE VIRTUAL PUBLIC HEARING (Monday, March 29 at 6pm): https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_GlH6svHUSr6CzQoc21ZkdA
MADMF NOTICE PDF: https://www.mass.gov/doc/030521-public-hearing-on-commercial-fishery-rules-affecting-striped-bass-menhaden-black-sea-0/download
