CCA MASSALERT - ACT NOW

Public hearings being held on August 12^th and 13^th by the Massachusetts Department of Marine Fisheries (DMF) will include the following proposals to amend striped bass regulations. These proposals would go into effect for the remainder of the 2002 season if approved by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) as DMF has requested. Hearings will be:

Monday, August 12, 2002 (7-10p.m.) in the auditorium at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy

Tuesday, August 14, 2002 (7-10p.m.) at the Annisquam River Marine Fisheries Station

DMF proposals to amend striped bass regulations of concern to CCA-MA:

· Amend the recreational striped bass bag and size limit from the current 1-fish per angler at 28” or greater to a limit of 2 fish where the first fish must measure at least 28” and the second fish must measure at least 40”.

· Increase the commercial quota from 807,000 to 1,000,000 lbs.

CCA-MA is adamantly opposed to any changes to the recreational bag limit or the commercial quota for 2002 for several major reasons – Terrible timing, blatant allocation shift, absolutely no conservation benefit, and the proposals further reduce threatened spawning stock.

Timing Making changes in the middle of the summer subverts the public input process. These proposals should have come last winter in time for more careful deliberation before the fishing season began. Instead, DMF is proposing changes just before ASMFC holds public hearings that will totally change the way striped bass are managed. Mr. Diodati’s stated purpose is to increase the Massachusetts 2002 harvest to “ensure improved future allocation prospects for the Commonwealth”[DMFNEWS]. This is a misguided political move to try to establish higher harvest levels before ASMFC passes a new management plan this fall.

Blatant Allocation Shift/No Conservation Benefit Mr. Diodati’s proposals will create an allocation fight within the state and region that is counterproductive to responsible fisheries management and good conservation practice. Mass anglers have supported conservation by accepting a 1 fish limit, thereby paying into the striped bass bank. Now Mr. Diodati wants to pay out the dividends of their sacrifice to the commercial side which will make the bank a morgue. That is morally and ethically wrong. Massachusetts has fished below ASMFC allowed limits both recreationally and commercially since 1995, a record for which DMF should be applauded. Tell Mr. Diodati that DMF should continue to lead by example and conserve striped bass for the benefit of the resource and not pit fishermen against fishermen. Tell him to work towards establishing regional management regimes that reward states for conservation.

Proposals Further Reduce Threatened Spawning Stock For the past two years, the ASMFC Striped Bass Management Board, which is made up of state fisheries directors like Paul Diodati, have been considering changes to the current fisheries management plan (FMP) because of a documented concern that the female spawning stock biomass (Striped bass over 28”) has been decreasing. The DMF proposals fly in the face of that effort. These proposals will worsen a growing threat to the long-term sustainability of striped bass, which is what CCA has been working for throughout the FMP amendment process.

Jim Blackwell Matt Curtis Pat Keliher

CCA- MA Chairman ASMFC Committee Rep. Executive Director

Gov. Relations Chair

What Can You Do? Tell Paul Diodati & DMF To Continue To Conserve Striped Bass

• Attend the public hearings. Speak up for CCA’s position.
• Send a letter or fax to Paul Diodati expressing your concerns with these proposals

Paul Diodati, Director, Division of Marine Fisheries

251 Causeway St., Boston, MA 02114; Fax: 617-626-1509

Go to the CCA-MA website for copy of the public hearing notice and DMF NEWS for 2^nd & 3^rd quarters

http://www.cca-ma.com/