Fisheries commission hailed for decision on striped bass

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree wrote to commission to argue that raising commercial catch limits in Chesapeake Bay would hurt Maine fishermen and businesses

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree is applauding the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s (ASMFC) decision to turn down a request to raise commercial fishing quotas for striped bass in Chesapeake Bay and the East Coast, which would have further hurt already declining striper stocks that are important to Maine’s recreational fishermen and coastal economy.

“I’m glad the commission has decided not to raise the commercial catch limit for stripers,” Pingree said.  “We need policies that keep this critical fishery open and healthy for our small coastal businesses.”

In October, Pingree wrote to ASMFC Chair Robert Boyles, asking the commission to consider how a commercial catch increase for Chesapeake Bay and other places along the East Coast would directly and adversely impact Maine’s recreational striper fishery.  The commission considered the letter as it voted on fisheries management at its annual meeting earlier this month.

Maine does not allow commercial fishing of stripers, but it is an important resource for recreational fishermen, supporting tackle shops, fishing guides, charter boats and tourism.  Over the last 20 years, though, stocks have declined severely, reducing revenue for these small businesses or even forcing them to close.

While over 4 million stripers were landed in Maine in 2006, only 300,000 were caught in 2009.  Local fishermen have also reported catching fewer and fewer younger fish, giving them concern over the population’s future.

A recent article about the challenges local striper guides are facing is available here

Almost all of the stripers that come to Maine in the summer are from the Chesapeake Bay stock (Maine only has a small breeding population that cannot sustain the local fishery).   In the Chesapeake striper population, there have been falling numbers of young, incidents of poaching, and significant mortality due to bacterial infection.   Since current fisheries models do not take some of these factors into account, they could overestimate the number of fish in the wild.

“With what I’ve heard from longtime Maine guides now struggling to keep their businesses open, we can’t wait for the situation to get even more dire,” said Pingree.  “I’m encouraged by the commission’s decision because increasing the catch in other states certainly wouldn’t have helped things.”

 

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