Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board Approves Draft Addendum VI for Public Comment
Aug
9
Written by:
8/9/2019 8:38 PM
Arlington,
VA - The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's Atlantic Striped Bass
Management Board (Board) approved Draft Addendum VI for public comment. The
Addendum 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 is a critical first step to stem overfishing as quickly as
possible and begin efforts to rebuild the biomass," said Board Chair Dr.
Michael Armstrong with the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries.
"Following approval of the Addendum, the Board will likely initiate a new
amendment to consider a longer term strategy to fully rebuild the
resource."
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.
It is anticipated the majority of Atlantic coastal states will conduct
public hearings on the Draft Addendum; a subsequent press release will announce
the details of those hearings once they become finalized. Fishermen and other
interested groups are encouraged to provide input on the Draft Addendum either
by attending state public hearings or providing written comment. The Draft
Addendum will be available on the Commission website (www.asmfcorg) under Public
Input by August 19th. Public comment will be accepted until 5:00 PM
(EST) on September 27, 2019 and should be forwarded 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: Draft Addendum VI). Organizations planning to release an action
alert in response to Draft Addendum VI should contact Max Appelman at mappelman@asmfc.org or
703.842.0740.