In a Press Release issued on 1/21/2013 by Stripers Forever, a Striped Bass Gamefish Advocacy group, they announced of the launch of a petition to reduce the 2013 harvest of wild striped bass in Massachusetts state waters by at least 50% in both the recreational and commercial wild striped bass fisheries. The petition is open to residents and property owners of Massachusetts only.
According to the Press Release, “The recreational catch of wild striped bass in Massachusetts waters has decreased 87 percent over the past five years, according to data released by the National Ocean and Atmospheric Association. During that same time period, the striped bass angling catch from Maine to South Carolina has declined by 73 percent.”
“These alarming statistics clearly indicate the need for action all along the Atlantic Coast,” says Brad Burns, president of Stripers Forever. “Since more large, breeding-size striped bass are caught in Massachusetts than anywhere else, Stripers Forever is collecting signatures on a petition which asks the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries to reduce both the recreational and commercial harvest of wild stripers by at least 50 percent starting with the 2013 season.
We can’t continue to harvest stripers at irresponsible levels and expect the resource to rebound,” Burns said. “Fishery managers must determine what regulations need to be put in place to reduce the recreational catch by 50 percent. The commercial quota is a hard number and can simply be cut in half.
The key is for the managers to get new regulations in place before the striper season gets underway this spring in Massachusetts,” Burns added. “And the best way for striper anglers to convince the managers to get that done is to sign the Stripers Forever petition. Remember, there is great strength in numbers, so the more signatures on the petition, the better.”
The Stripers Forever petition is available for signing on line at www.petitionbuzz.com/petitions/striperconservation and at fishing shows and tackle shops in Massachusetts.
