Oh what a long, strange trip it’s been the last few months as member states of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) waded their way through the muddy waters of striped bass management, but we’re not done yet.
In response to the release of the Atlantic striped bass benchmark stock assessment which found the resource to be overfished and overfishing is occurring back in May, the Striped Bass Management Board (Board) proceeded to approve Draft Addendum VI to Amendment 6 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Striped Bass for public comment.
From there public hearings were held from Maine to Virginia and the status of striped bass and its future was debated everywhere from fiberglass decks of your local fishing boat to social media platforms and beyond.
This week, the Board will review the public comment, the advisory panel report, the law enforcement report and consider final approval of Addendum VI as well as review of the criteria for development of conservation equivalency proposals as states proceed to tweak the results of the Addendum to best suit their angler’s motives, methods and needs.
The entire proceedings of the ASMFC’s Annual Meeting are open to the public, and you have two ways in which you may participate. First up, you may attend in person. The meeting is scheduled to take place October 28 – 30 at Wentworth By The Sea, 588 Wentworth Road, New Castle, New Hampshire.
If you can’t make the drive to New Hampshire this week, then you may sit in on the webinar by registering here. The webinar will allow registrants to listen to board deliberations and view presentations and motions as they occur. Please note, no comments or questions will be accepted via the webinar.
While there is a full slate of meetings scheduled this week, the following are some of the highlights of special concern and interest to Fisherman Magazine readers:
- October 28, 10:45 AM – 11:45 AM: Tautog Management Board
- October 29, 1:30 PM – 4:45 PM: Law Enforcement Committee
- October 29, 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM: Weakfish Management Board
- October 30, 1:15 PM – 2:30 PM: Coastal Sharks Management Board
- October 30, 2:45 – 5:45 PM: Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board
Complete details on these board agendas can be found online.
