Striped bass management and coastwide efforts to reduce fishing mortality in the recreational fishing community is back on the table for 2024, and anglers are encouraged to weigh in on potential options. The commend period ends at 11:59 p.m. on Friday, December 22.
In late October, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) and its Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board (Board) approved for public comment Draft Addendum II to Amendment 7 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Atlantic Striped Bass. The Draft Addendum considers management measures designed to support stock rebuilding by reducing fishing mortality to the target in 2024.
Initial webinar hearings got underway starting November 15, though according to the ASMFC the State of New Jersey is in the process of scheduling additional hearings. The Draft Addendum was initiated in response to the low probability of meeting the 2029 stock rebuilding deadline if the unexpectedly high 2022 fishing mortality rate continues. The public is being asked to consider future management measures intended to reduce fishing mortality to the target level in 2024.
According to ASFMC, projections indicate that a 14.5% reduction in total removals relative to 2022 is needed to have a 50% chance of being at or below the fishing mortality target in 2024. For the recreational fishery, that means recreational bag and size limit proposals for the ocean and Chesapeake Bay regions, including options with different limits for the for-hire modes. The Board is also looking at a quota reduction option that would reduce commercial quotas by up to 14.5%.
For measures beyond 2024, the Board will consider the results of the upcoming 2024 stock assessment update to inform subsequent management action. To enable an expedited management response to the 2024 stock assessment update, the Draft Addendum proposes an option that would enable the Board to respond to the results of the stock assessment updates more quickly if the stock is not projected to rebuild by 2029. The Board will meet to review submitted comments and consider final action on the addendum in January 2024 at the Commission’s Winter Meeting in Arlington, VA.
For more information, contact Emilie Franke, Fishery Management Plan Coordinator, at [email protected] or 703-842-0740, and be sure to visit ASMFC.org to get additional information about the public comment period and ongoing hearings. Don’t forget, you have until December 22, 2023 to provide comments.
