Final Striped Bass PID Hearings - NY, CT & NJ - The Fisherman

Final Striped Bass PID Hearings – NY, CT & NJ

Several weeks ago we first passed along word of the impending public hearings on striped bass management, and last week Rhode Island and Massachusetts held their meetings. We also told you about the final circle hook regulations, specifically regarding the definition of bait, clarification on methods where a circle hook is required and how to handle incidental catches of striped bass when targeting other species with bait and a j-hook.

Well, now its time for New York, Connecticut and New Jersey to weigh-in on the Public Information Document, or PID, for Amendment 7 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic striped bass..

Date State/Agency Jurisdiction Contact
Tuesday, March 23 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. New York State Dept. of Environmental Conservation Maureen Davison, 631.444.0483
Wednesday, March 24 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Connecticut Dept. of Energy & Environmental Protection Justin Davis, 860.447.4322
Thursday, March 25 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. New Jersey Fish and Wildlife Joe Cimino, 609.748.2020

In order to attend these virtual meetings you will need to pre-register for the chosen webinar (you can sign up for all or any of them.)

As the first step in the amendment process, the PID seeks input from those interested in striped bass about changes observed in the fishery/resource and potential management measures. It has been 18 years since the last plan amendment to the Atlantic Striped Bass FMP was adopted (Amendment 6). Since then, the status and understanding of the striped bass stock and fishery has changed considerably which raises concern that the management program no longer reflects current fishery needs and priorities. The results of the 2018 Benchmark Stock Assessment in particular led the Board to discuss a number of prominent issues facing striped bass management. Consequently, the Board initiated the development of Amendment 7 in August 2020.

The purpose of the PID is to solicit stakeholder input on prioritizing the importance of each topic for continued development and potential inclusion in the Draft Amendment. The PID considers the following management topics:

  1. fishery goals and objectives;
  2. biological reference points;
  3. management triggers:
  4. stock rebuilding targets and schedule;
  5. regional management;
  6. management program equivalency (conservation equivalency);
  7. recreational release mortality;
  8. recreational accountability;
  9. coastal commercial quota allocation; and
  10. other issues raised in public comments.

So how do these 10 points break out? And what would changes to striped bass management contained in adjustments to any of these 10 management topics mean for recreational fishermen in the coming years and their ability to target the species of which they love? Hopefully, these points will be addressed in the upcoming virtual hearings presented by the ASMFC related to the ongoing and future management of Atlantic striped bass.