Skitterpop
09-18-2006, 07:58 AM
September 18, 2006
Bass notes
By DOUG FRASER
STAFF WRITER
The federal government has decided to keep offshore waters closed to striped bass fishing.
This month the National Marine Fisheries Service decided to stick with its original decision of 1990 when it closed down the waters it controls, between three miles and 200 miles from shore.
Fifteen years ago the fisheries service closed those waters to striped bass fishing to help in the recovery of the species from historically low levels.
Striped bass populations were declared fully restored to healthy levels in 1995. But the recent decision is more a case of ''if it ain't broke, don't fix it.''
In 2003, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries commission, which regulates fishing on species that occur in the waters of more than one state, asked the National Marine Fisheries Service to reopen the offshore areas.
A 2005 stock assessment said that the striped bass population was still at a healthy level and not being overfished.
Reopening federal waters would not have added more fish to the annual quota, but would have given fishermen more areas to find fish.
But the National Marine Fisheries Service cited data showing an increase in fishing mortality on striped bass and a decrease in female spawners.
They felt that reopening the offshore areas could result in overfishing of striped bass before the National Marine Fisheries Service and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries commission could enact new measures to control it.
''I don't see why there would be more fishing pressure unless they changed the rules,'' said Peter Baker, campaign director for the Cape Cod Commercial Hook Fishermen's Association.
Striped bass fishing regulations vary from state to state.
Massachusetts allows striped bass fishing only with a hook and line, four days a week, with 30 fish per day, in the commercial fishery.
Baker said allowing fishermen into federal waters would give them more fishing areas so they could spread out and not be forced to compete against each other inshore.
It would also have given Cape fishermen access to Nantucket Shoals, an historical bass fishing area, which now lies in federal waters.
The state Division of Marine Fisheries also wanted to see federal waters fished again.
DMF director Paul Diodati said in an interview earlier this summer that fish swimming in deeper, offshore waters had a better chance of survival when caught and released than fish caught inshore.
Offshore schools also tended to be mixed assemblages of fish from many different spawning grounds, reducing the possibility that the majority of spawning stock from any one area would get caught.
Doug Fraser can be reached at dfraser@capecodonline.com. (Published: September 18, 2006)
Bass notes
By DOUG FRASER
STAFF WRITER
The federal government has decided to keep offshore waters closed to striped bass fishing.
This month the National Marine Fisheries Service decided to stick with its original decision of 1990 when it closed down the waters it controls, between three miles and 200 miles from shore.
Fifteen years ago the fisheries service closed those waters to striped bass fishing to help in the recovery of the species from historically low levels.
Striped bass populations were declared fully restored to healthy levels in 1995. But the recent decision is more a case of ''if it ain't broke, don't fix it.''
In 2003, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries commission, which regulates fishing on species that occur in the waters of more than one state, asked the National Marine Fisheries Service to reopen the offshore areas.
A 2005 stock assessment said that the striped bass population was still at a healthy level and not being overfished.
Reopening federal waters would not have added more fish to the annual quota, but would have given fishermen more areas to find fish.
But the National Marine Fisheries Service cited data showing an increase in fishing mortality on striped bass and a decrease in female spawners.
They felt that reopening the offshore areas could result in overfishing of striped bass before the National Marine Fisheries Service and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries commission could enact new measures to control it.
''I don't see why there would be more fishing pressure unless they changed the rules,'' said Peter Baker, campaign director for the Cape Cod Commercial Hook Fishermen's Association.
Striped bass fishing regulations vary from state to state.
Massachusetts allows striped bass fishing only with a hook and line, four days a week, with 30 fish per day, in the commercial fishery.
Baker said allowing fishermen into federal waters would give them more fishing areas so they could spread out and not be forced to compete against each other inshore.
It would also have given Cape fishermen access to Nantucket Shoals, an historical bass fishing area, which now lies in federal waters.
The state Division of Marine Fisheries also wanted to see federal waters fished again.
DMF director Paul Diodati said in an interview earlier this summer that fish swimming in deeper, offshore waters had a better chance of survival when caught and released than fish caught inshore.
Offshore schools also tended to be mixed assemblages of fish from many different spawning grounds, reducing the possibility that the majority of spawning stock from any one area would get caught.
Doug Fraser can be reached at dfraser@capecodonline.com. (Published: September 18, 2006)