EEZ Reopenning for Stripers Considered

[Onshore]

Idea of opening EEZ for Striped Bass to be Revisited

Striped Bass fishing in the EEZ was banned by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) in 1995 in support of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s (ASMFC) efforts to restore the stocks. In 1995 ASMFC declared the stocks to be restored. ASMFC has now requested NMFS consider reopening the EEZ as part of the already adopted Amendment 6 of the Striped Bass Management Plan.

The EEZ is the limit of federal jurisdiction for fisheries management beginning at 3 miles from the coast out to 200 nautical miles. Coastal states, acting through ASMFC retain jurisdiction for Striped Bass management within the 3 mile limit. The coastal states through ASMFC set commercial landing limits along the entire coast.

If the EEZ is reopened to taking of Striped Bass, ASMFC has no plans, nor will it entertain increasing the commercial landings quota. However, it will allow fishermen to take Stripers from traditional fishing grounds they enjoyed for years.

NMFS published it’s intent to consider reopening the EEZ in the Federal Register on April 24. NMFS is seeking comments from interested parties until May 24, 2006. Copies of the scoping document may be obtained and comments on it may be sent to:

Tom Meyer, State-Federal Fisheries Div.
Office of Sustainable Fisheries, NMFS
1315 East West Highway, Room 13248
Silver Spring, MD 20910

Or, email to:
Striped-Bass.Comments@noaa.gov.

[Capt Dave]

Here's a link to additional information you may want to read:

http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/state_federal/regulatory_activities.htm#pda

[CMP]

The EEZ closure was a political accomodation made way back when and it NEVER had any biological impact-none. It's a scam and should be done away with. Pressure would spread out in a big way, not concentrate on a biologically-insignificant, politically-created 3-mile ring around the coast. That is all...

CMP

[Slappy]

The EEZ closure was a political accomodation made way back when and it NEVER had any biological impact-none. It's a scam and should be done away with. Pressure would spread out in a big way, not concentrate on a biologically-insignificant, politically-created 3-mile ring around the coast. That is all...

CMP

CMP, I disagree. It is likely that the EEZ has had an impact and will continue to have an impact on stripers.

Just about evey management action has some unintended consequence. Some speculate that the heavy netting of stripers selected out the fish that are likely to grow big and fat, hence the reduction of weight to length over time. (Or could it be the overfishing of menhaden?)

The EEZ causes bigger fish to be "selected out" near the shore. I bet that some stripers are more likely to stay in shore while others are more likely to stay offshore. Which ones will be more successful with the EEZ? So the likely impact is poorer fishing inshore with the same biomass of stripers.

If there is a quota for stripers and it is met annually, what good does the EEZ do? It keeps the bass away from the shores so poor people can't get them!

How's that for cynical?

I know this is an idiot opinion...but I've got a lot more just like it. :eek: