NY State Congressman Wants Commercial Bass Grab- Help Stop HR-3070

New York State Representative Lee Zeldin, from Long Island, has introduced a bill (HR-3070) in Congress that would re-draw the boundaries of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) around Block Island, re-allocating vital striped bass sanctuary waters to the control of New York and Rhode Island, both of which allow commercial fishing. Connecticut, a game fish state that sits between them, is left out of the picture. 

Stripers Forever regards this bill as a danger to the health and recovery of wild Atlantic striped bass. Not only will it increase pressure on striped bass stocks, but it sets a bad precedent by ceding federal waters to state control. The water that would be opened to state management—and thus commercial fishing—is well known for attracting large female stripers, the very fish on which the future of the species depends.

We urge you to reach out to the members of the Congressional Natural Resources Committee as well as to your own members of Congress and ask them to oppose this bill for the future of striped bass. We have an updated state by state listing of officials on our website, just click on your state and scroll down.

Please let us know if you have any questions by contacting us at: stripers@stripersforver.org

Thank you for being an important part of the fight for the future of striped bass.