Idea of opening EEZ for Striped Bass to be Revisited
Striped Bass fishing in the EEZ was banned by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) in 1995 in support of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s (ASMFC) efforts to restore the stocks. In 1995 ASMFC declared the stocks to be restored. ASMFC has now requested NMFS consider reopening the EEZ as part of the already adopted Amendment 6 of the Striped Bass Management Plan.
The EEZ is the limit of federal jurisdiction for fisheries management beginning at 3 miles from the coast out to 200 nautical miles. Coastal states, acting through ASMFC retain jurisdiction for Striped Bass management within the 3 mile limit. The coastal states through ASMFC set commercial landing limits along the entire coast.
If the EEZ is reopened to taking of Striped Bass, ASMFC has no plans, nor will it entertain increasing the commercial landings quota. However, it will allow fishermen to take Stripers from traditional fishing grounds they enjoyed for years.
NMFS published it’s intent to consider reopening the EEZ in the Federal Register on April 24. NMFS is seeking comments from interested parties until May 24, 2006. Copies of the scoping document may be obtained and comments on it may be sent to:
Tom Meyer, State-Federal Fisheries Div.
Office of Sustainable Fisheries, NMFS
1315 East West Highway, Room 13248
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Or, email to:
Striped-Bass.Comments@noaa.gov.