New England States Schedule: Striped Bass Public Hearings - The Fisherman

New England States Schedule: Striped Bass Public Hearings

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board releases Draft Addendum VI to Amendment 6 of the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Striped Bass for public comment. Atlantic coastal states from Maine through North Carolina, including Pennsylvania, the District of Columbia, and the Potomac River Fisheries Commission, have scheduled their hearings to gather public input on Draft Addendum VI. The details of New England hearings follow, and a complete list of all hearings can be found at www.TheFisherman.com.

Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection

  • September 23, 2019 at 7 PM – Marine Headquarters, Boating Education Center – 333 Ferry Road, Old Lyme, Connecticut Contact: Justin Davis at justin.davis@ct.gov or 860.434.6043
  • September 25, 2019 at 7 PM – Port 5 Hall – 69 Brewster Street, Bridgeport, Connecticut. Contact: Justin Davis at justin.davis@ct.gov or 860.434.6043

Rhode Island Division of Fish & Wildlife

  • September 24, 2019 at 6 PM – University of Rhode Island Bay Campus Corless Auditorium, South Ferry Road, Narragansett, Rhode Island. Contact: Nicole Lengyel Costa at nicole.lengyel@dem.ri.gov or 401.423.1940

Maine Department of Marine Resources

  • October 1, 2019 at 6 PM – Kennebunk Town Hall – Room 300 – 1 Summer Street, Kennebunk, Maine. Contact: Megan Ware at megan.ware@maine.gov or 207.446.0932
  • October 2, 2019 at 6:30 PM – Yarmouth Town Hall – Log Cabin – 196 Main Street, Yarmouth, Maine. Contact: Megan Ware at megan.ware@maine.gov or 207.446.0932

New Hampshire Fish and Game

  • October 1, 2019 at 7 PM – Urban Forestry Center, 45 Elwyn Road Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Contact: Doug Grout at Douglas.Grout@wildlife.nh.gov or 603.868.1095

Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries

  • October 2, 2019 at 6 PM – Crowne Plaza Woburn, 15 Middlesex Canal Park Drive, Woburn, Massachusetts. Contact: Mike Armstrong at michael.armstrong@state.ma.us or 978.282.0308, ext. 109
  • October 3, 2019 at 6 PM – MA Maritime Academy, Admiral’s Hall, 101 Academy Drive, Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts. Contact: Mike Armstrong at michael.armstrong@state.ma.us or 978.282.0308, ext. 109

Draft Addendum VI 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 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.

Draft Addendum VI is available via the Commission’s website at www.asmfc.org. Fishermen and other stakeholders are encouraged to provide input on Draft Addendum VI either by attending state public hearings or providing written comment. Public comment will be accepted until 5 PM (EST) on October 7, 2019 and should be sent 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: Striped Bass Draft Addendum VI).

The Board will meet at the Commission’s Annual Meeting in October to review public comment and consider final approval of the Addendum.

Related

Editor’s Log: Pork Roll vs. Taylor Ham

Editor’s Log: Is This Really A Victory?

Editor’s Log: End Of An Era In Montauk