Increase Commercial Catch for Striped Bass? Or NOT? - Sign up here

[JohnR]

Yep, the ASMFC has an addendum to propose an increase in the commercial quota to "improve" equality between recs and comms.
(Also on the agenda is discussion for changing how YOY indices are measured / failure quantified). Full text:

The proposal to increase the coastal commercial quota is intended to improve equality between the commercial and recreational fishery sectors. Although Amendment 6 established management programs for both fisheries based on the same target fishing mortality rate, the implementation of state-specific quotas for coastal commercial harvest (and not for recreational harvest) has prevented the commercial and recreational fisheries from responding equally to changes in striped bass population size. Since 2003, coastal commercial harvest has decreased by 3.6 percent, while recreational harvest has increased by 13.7 percent. Under the option, the Board would select a percent increase to be applied to the coastal commercial allocations assigned in Amendment 6.

Now many of you know that I am not pro or anti-commercial fishing for Stripers (I'd prefer reducing takes on both rec / com and better protection for forage fish). I know we have members that fish commercially and members that support game fish status. So we cover all the bases here and often argue these points ad nauseum. But I think the vast majority of the people here think that the stocks are heading in the wrong direction and that a reduction in take all across the board is necessary to benefit the health of the stocks.

So without getting into yet another battle to quagmire discussion (we can have another thread for that) who here is willing to GO TO THE HEARING? Maine and New Hampshire are coming in September. But Mass and RI are next week.

Add your name to the following lists on which meeting you can attend. Mass is next Monday in Dedham and RI is next Tuesday in Gansett.


John R: MASS (likely) & RI (definitely)


Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries
August 16, 2010; 6:00 PM
Holiday Inn
55 Ariadne Road
Dedham, Massachusetts
Contact: Jared Silva at (617) 626-1534

Rhode Island Division of Fish and Wildlife
August 17, 2010; 6:00 PM
URI, Narragansett Bay Campus, Corless Auditorium
215 South Ferry Road
Narragansett, Rhode Island
Contact: Mark Gibson at (401) 423-1935

Time to go all in. Full document attached.