[Redsoxticket]

Yesterday, at the Atlantic States Marine Fishery Commission striped bass meeting, Ken Hastings, Stripers Forever's ASMFC policy coordinator gave the#^&testimony at the bottom of this page.#^&

If you wanted to be upset you should have been there. According to Ken there was so much confusion and nitpicking discussion over obscure details of striped bass science that whether or not the needed cuts in striped bass harvest will even be implemented in 2015 is now in doubt! Meanwhile, since MD didn't kill every possible fish allowed in 2013, and rationalized by additional theoretical statistics, their plan to increase their catch by 14% in 2014 has now mushroomed to something over 16.5%. The vast majority of the targeted fish will barely make the 18" minimum size. they can't find enough of those, however, they will simply take an even bigger slice of what is left of the spawning stock. You can be assured that this is to represent commercial interests - most recreational anglers don't want it. They see the need to conserve the one decent year class in the pipeline.

Stripers Forever was organized to bypass the commercially dominated ASMFC process by going directly to the state legislatures and submitting legislation to make striped bass a game fish. One thing is clear to us, and that is that there is no substitute for the eventual goal of game fish designation. As long as wild striped bass can legally be fished commercially we will be fighting to keep the fishery from being destroyed by overfishing.

Here is Ken's testimony:



Testimony Before the ASMFC SB Management Board, 2/4/14



Good morning. My name is Ken Hastings and I am a recreational fisherman from Mechanicsville, MD. I am here today representing Stripers Forever. Stripers Forever advocates for game fish status to end the commercial exploitation of Atlantic Striped Bass. We believe, supported by credible expert analyses, that the socio-economic values of live SB far exceed their value as food and that they should be managed to maximize their greater recreational value both socially and economically. Substituting recreational priorities for commercial priorities would create an inherent conservation ethic. Recreational values are measured by the opportunities for success thus more fish alive becomes the goal. This simple fact is Species Management 101.



We believe ASMFC's flawed policies and biased priorities are directly responsible for the decline of the SB fishery and that they continue to impede any attempts to restore this fishery. For example, allowing the Chesapeake Bay jurisdictions to increase the exploitation of the 2011 year class in the face of potentially drastic cuts in allocation for everyone is irresponsible at best. Every fish we eat today is one less that will join the SSB in 2016.



You should have seen the decline coming. Everyone else did. And you were obligated to head it off. All the signs were there even before the Boston Annual Meeting but this commission chose to ignore the fact that data uncertainties can cut both ways. Greed continues to rule the day. The overwhelming commercial bias of this Council and its relentless desire to support exploitation over conservation encourages you to ignore even the admonishment and pleas of one of your own to reduce harvest. This bias of always seeing the abundance glass as half full even when confronted with an obvious down-turn in the stock has twice resulted in your voting to continue kicking the can down the road. Meanwhile, plummeting fish abundance and lost recreational fishing economy and opportunities have become the norm and produced some of the worst SB fishing in years.



Now, you have another chance although with far fewer fish to work with than before. Your new stock assessment report has a very candid assessment of uncertainties that even tops the 2011 discussion in Boston. It's time to stop kicking the can.



Thank you for this opportunity.