Amendment 6

[masman]

Perhaps this thread should be posted on the Conservation forum, but I'll start it here: I'm surprised no one has commented on the passage of Amendment 6 to the Striped Bass Management Plan, in which the ASMFC has approved an increase in the commercial striper quota by 30 percent, while going with status quo for the recreational sector. This despite a consensus at the public hearings and written comments up and down the coast that the commercial quota should NOT be increased, and despite a similar recommendation by the ASMFC's own Striped Bass Board. What do you all think of this?

[ag1]

I'm not surprised at the decision. In the current economic climate, I can see where more weight would be given to sides that need to maintain income. I've always felt that the fisheries management process has been about economics, not the fish. Only when the situation become dire does anything significant happen to create change. Juts like lots of other things.

What the rec sector needs to do is keep up the pressure and stay in their faces. Without that, we'll get hosed.

My opinion.


Al

[Ray]

As someone who is actively working with ASMFC through CCA, and especially our government relations committee I feel we are doing quiet a bit. The data, though questionable, indicates mass is regularly fishing below its quota.

We were very happy to see the mortality numbers not increased, but remain the same. This is critical to maintaining and growiing the population and increasing the number of larger breeding fish.

Now the issue is allowing a second "trophy" fish to be kept in mass.

[masman]

Correction: In my initial post I should have said that the Striped Bass Advisory Panel recommended a "no increase" in the commercial quota. The ASMFC Striped Bass Board ignored the recommendation and voted to approve the motion to expand the commercial fishery by 30 percent.

[Onshore]

he actual increase for the commercials will come down to about 44%.

When this was voted in Warwick, RI last month there were no anglers there from any state other than ME, NH, NY, RI and MD to oppose the commercial increase. And we were less than 12 recreational fishermen. So much for keeping the pressure on the managers.

In Arlington, VA on February 24th. the Striped Bass Management Board will cast its final vote to make Amendment 6 the law. I've got $50 that says the vote will be unanimous.

Bill Hubbard