Hello All,

I received the following message from Jim Kirkley who is working on the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) regarding the potential opening of the EEZ to striped bass fishing. I asked him if he minded if I post it on the various recreational message boards that I frequent. If you can help out then he would surely appreciate it.

Regardless of how you feel about this subject, it won't help Jim if the subsequent discussions are confined only to this message board. If you feel you have something to contribute then be sure to make Jim know about it as well.

Best,
Mike Flaherty
Wareham, MA

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Good Day All (particularly those individuals along the Atlantic Coast):

I am doing some work on striped bass (rockfish, stripers, and so on) and
the potential opening of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)--3 to
200miles--to both commercial and recreational angling. All activities
would be subject to current state regulations. The commercial fishery
would be a bycatch only fishery and limited to five percent of the directed
catch or 100 fish [per day or trip], which ever is smaller. Rec. angling restrictions would
follow existing state regulations. The basic premise is that the opening
of the EEZ might prevent the waste of discards and overall landings would
not increase in the commercial fishery. There, however, would likely be an
increase in recreational landings--not yet sure of amount. Moreover, it is
very likely that the increase in rec. catches would occur on major spawning
grounds during spawning season, when the really monster bass are available.

I am interesting in hearing from individuals about their opinions, etc.
regarding the opening of the EEZ to striped bass fishing. We have been
talking to several commercial and recreational users, but are obtaining a
real mixed opinion about this issue. If you are willing to provide some
feedback about this, please send me an e-mail--jkirkley@vims.edu
[snip]

Jim Kirkley

James (Jim) E. Kirkley
Chair, Department of Coastal and Ocean Policy
College of William and Mary
Virginia Institute of Marine Science
School of Marine Science
Gloucester Point, VA 23062
For Express mail: 1208 Greate Road
(Please note phone number change)
FAX:804-684-7843
WORK:804-684-7160
e-mail:jkirkley@vims.edu

Jim later added...

I had asked individuals to provide any info about the potential opening of
the EEZ to striped bass commercial and recreational
fishing. Unfortunately, I erred on spawning activity. I somehow indicated
that spawning occurred in these offshore areas. Ed Houde of the Univ. of
Maryland very generously informed me that spawning occurs inshore in the
tributaries, which is absolutely correct. What happens is that there are
large concentrations of the larger fish, high fecundity, in the offshore
areas--basically, these are the really large fish.

Thanks!
Jim Kirkley