ASMFC, Mass, and Striped Bass

[JohnR]

Does NMFS and USFWS abstain because this is a state's call? Or do they have the ability to vote one way or the other?

What can be done to put pressure on Ma or NY (for example) to change position?

[striperman36]

This committee has almost always voted in favor of commercials
My thought is to petition members as a group not as individuals

[striperman36]

MA RI members

MA Paul Diodati
MA DMF
251 Causeway Street, #400
Boston, MA 02114
Phone: 617/626-1530
FAX: 617/626-1509
William A. Adler
Massachusetts Lobstermen's Association
PO Box 397
Green Harbor, MA 02041
Phone: 781/545-6984
FAX: 781/545-7837
Rep. Anthony Verga
66 Perkins Street
Gloucester, MA 01930
Phone: 978/283-2675
FAX: 978/283-5870
RI Mark Gibson
RI DEM
3 Fort Wetherill Road
Jamestown, RI 02835
Phone: 401/423-1940
FAX: 401/423-1925

Everett A. Petronio, Jr.
1239 Hartford Avenue
Johnson, RI 02919
Phone: 401/273-8800
Vice-Chair, ASMFC Governors' Appointees
Senator V. Susan Sosnowski
680 Glen Rock Rd
West Kingston, RI 02892
Phone: 401/276-5547

[Mike P]

Good luck with the Mass. members---you'll need it

[Flaptail]

Recs take more and we had fish though you may not have. This year could be different, every year is. They could end up in 'Gannset s#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&g down a glut of pogies or they could by-pass and end up here again like last year. With the fishing we saw here last year, on both legal sale fish and school bass, it's no wonder.

Last year was the first in many moons we didn't experience a case of the doldrums if you knew where to fish.

Stripers Forever paints an incomplete picture spun for thier use.

[NIB]

Is anyone else amazed MD voted against.

[Back Beach]

Originally Posted by Flaptail

Recs take more and we had fish though you may not have. This year could be different, every year is. They could end up in 'Gannset s#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&g down a glut of pogies or they could by-pass and end up here again like last year. With the fishing we saw here last year, on both legal sale fish and school bass, it's no wonder.

Last year was the first in many moons we didn't experience a case of the doldrums if you knew where to fish.

Stripers Forever paints an incomplete picture spun for thier use.

Agreed. Perception of the fishery is all about distribution of fish on a given year. Gansett in 2007 versus 2008 is a perfect example. How did it allegedly go from one of the best big fish years ever in 2007 to a much lesser fishery for real large fish in 2008? Its likely the fish simply set up shop in another locale.

Some groups/people use the word "crisis" when describing the current state of affairs w/striped bass and its a bit overdone, IMO.
That said, there's obviously not an endless supply of fish, but fisheries management people don't seem to act conservatively until a species is on the brink of extinction. The bass currently don't fit into this mold, IMO. Don't be surprised if the quota gets increased.

Some poeple here may not realize it, but during the moratorium years, Mass had an open commercial striped bass fishery Pretty sure we were the only state on the coast too. With that precedent in place, don't expect more conservative measures now.