Striped Bass "The National Fish" - bill introduced today!

[PRBuzz]

"The Striped Bass American Heritage Act" - sponsored by Congressman Tom MacArthur of NJ to have the striped bass declared America's National Fish. Thanks for the heads-up Mike Laptew. Here's the text of the Act:

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Striped Bass American Heritage Act’’.

SEC. 2. DESIGNATION OF ATLANTIC STRIPED BASS AS NATIONAL FISH OF THE UNITED STATES.

(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds the following:

(1) The striped bass, Morone saxatilis, is an anadromous species, frequenting and requiring both fresh water and salt water throughout its life.
(2) The Atlantic striped bass has played an important role in the development and growth of the United States.
(3) The Atlantic striped bass is identified as playing a pivotal role in providing the Pilgrims of the Plymouth Colony sustenance in 1620.
(4) The Nation’s first fishing conservation law was enacted in 1639, pertaining to the use of Atlantic striped bass.
(5) The Nation’s first free public school was funded with income derived from the income accrued from Atlantic striped bass in 1670.
(6) Atlantic striped bass from the Navesink River in New Jersey were transported west to San Francisco Bay via railway car in 1879 during the country’s great expansion west.
(7) Atlantic striped bass spawn in freshwater, the success of which is influenced by environmental conditions, habitat, and water conditions.
(8) Widespread pollution of coastal estuaries and rivers and overfishing in the 1960’s and 1970’s lead to dramatic decline of the Atlantic striped bass population and the passage of the Atlantic Striped Bass Conservation Act in 1984 (16 U.S.C 5151 et seq.).
(9) Through Executive Order 13449, issued on October 24, 2007, Atlantic striped bass in Federal waters were afforded protection from sale.
(10) The Atlantic Striped Bass Conservation Act is a regional management success due in part to the moratorium authority vested in both the Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of the Interior who can declare jointly a moratorium on fishing for Atlantic striped bass within the coastal waters of any coastal State if the Secretaries determine that coastal State to be out of compliance with any regulatory measures necessary to fully implement and enforce the Atlantic striped bass management plan within its coastal waters.
(11) The Atlantic striped bass population responded positively to management measures and improvements to water quality, and was therefore declared rebuilt in 1995.
(12) The Atlantic striped bass supports significant and sustainable commercial and recreational fisheries that provide income, employment, and food.
(13) The Atlantic striped bass, through its resilience and persistence, represents the American ideals and spirit that helped shaped the Nation.

(b) DECLARATION. — The Atlantic striped bass, Morone saxatilis, is designated as the National Fish of the United States.

[Fish_Eye]

PRBuzz, thanks for posting the details of the Bill.

This designation will bring more public attention to a fish we obviously love and respect. It could help lead to more future support for cleaning rivers, getting more enforcement, more research, and regulations that put the restoration of the fish first. This isn't about "game fish" status, or recs vs commercials -- it's all about awareness and bestowing a status on a fish (our fish) that deserves the title "National Fish of the United States" a whole lot more than the American Eagle deserves the designation National Bird. JMHO

[l.i.fish.in.vt]

i would be willing to bet that cod played a much bigger role than bass in the early development of this country. in many of the fresh water lakes and resovoirs that they have been introduced to they are considered a nuisance fish.it has only been in the last 15 to 20 years that SB has become a popular fish to target for the masses.

[zimmy]

Originally Posted by l.i.fish.in.vt

it has only been in the last 15 to 20 years that SB has become a popular fish to target for the masses.

Twenty years puts it at 1995. Maybe last 50 years.

[Fish_Eye]

Striped bass fishing was very popular in 1860 at the West Island Club, but that only included the tycoons of the day.

There is a picture in the Cuttyhunk Fishing Club showing President Roosevelt and Taft together in 1908. Also in the picture was the president of Standard Oil and other movers and shakers of the day. A few months later Roosevelt suggested that Taft should be his successor and he was nominated. Those titans of industry and politics went to Cutty to fish for bass where they probably decided who should be the next president...over a glass of Hennessy...and a plate of striped bass. Yes, striped bass do indeed have a history in the development of this country.