ASMFC Approves Maryland’s Request to Extend the 2008 and 2009 Recreational Striped Bass Seasons
October 21, 2008
Non-quota Management Approved for the First Time
Annapolis, Md. — Today, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Striped Bass Management Board (ASMFC) approved Maryland’s request to extend the 2008 and 2009 recreational striped bass seasons. The decision also approved an alternative non-quota based management strategy for the fishery’s spring season. The ASMFC approved this strategy for the first time in 2008, but limited this only to the 2008 fishing season.
“Every year, hundreds of thousands of anglers take to the waters of the Chesapeake Bay in pursuit of Maryland’s favorite catch, striped bass,” said Maryland Department of Natural Resources Secretary John R. Griffin. “Extending the striped bass fishing seasons increases the opportunity for visiting and resident anglers to catch the big one and support local charter boat captains, fishing guides, tackle shops and other sportfishing related businesses.”
The ASMFC’s vote today extended management of the Chesapeake Bay spring trophy striped bass fishery by creel, size and season limits for 2009 and subsequent years until stock assessment determines that corrective action is required for the coastal migratory striped bass population. Maryland regulations include an open season from the third Saturday of April to May 15 when anglers may take one striped bass sized 28-inches or greater; and an open season from May 16 to May 31 when anglers may take two-fish 18-inch or larger, only one of which may be 28 inches or greater. ASMFC also supported Maryland’s proposal to extend the closure date of Maryland’s 2008 recreational striped bass fishery 16 days, from December 15 to December 31.
“We can now offer greater predictability of the timing, creel and size limits for the upcoming striped bass season,” said Maryland Fisheries Service Director Tom O’Connell. “Previously, anglers and local businesses were unsure of the seasons’ details until just a few months before its opening.”
To ensure sustainable fisheries management, Maryland and Virginia will continue to estimate and report total spring migrant striped bass harvest to the ASMFC.
“We are very appreciative DNR’s efforts, particularly Tom O’Connell, who worked very hard to increase the opportunity for anglers and charter boat captains to enjoy Maryland’s spectacular striped bass fishing,“ said Ed O’Brien, Vice President of the Maryland Charter Boat Association.
The Chesapeake Bay spring trophy striped bass fishery is of significant socio-economic importance to Maryland’s charter boat industry and recreational fishermen. It was recently estimated that fishing trip expenditures associated with Maryland’s spring striped bass fishery is $10 million annually. More than 9,000 local jobs are supported annually through Maryland’s sportfishing industry. The importance of this fishery to the economic sustainability of Maryland’s charter boat industry has increased recently due to the negative impacts on the industry from the nation’s current economic situation.
Related posts
Atlantic Herring Landing Restricted
April 29, 2008
DURHAM, N.H. — The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department’s Marine Fisheries Division today announced that effective May 1, 2008, commercial fishermen will not be allowed to land Atlantic herring taken from Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission Management Area 1A (located in the western half of the Gulf of Maine) from May 1-31. The May closure will be followed by a period of restricted days — beginning June 1, 2008, commercial fishermen will be prohibited from landing Atlantic herring taken from Management Area 1A on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. The restriction applies from 12:01 a.m. on Thursdays to midnight on Sundays. The restriction will remain in effect until December 31, 2008, or until further amended. Similar restrictions were in effect in 2005, 2006 and 2007.
The closure is in accordance with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) Atlantic Herring Management Plan. One of the provisions of the plan addresses the need to control “effort” (fishing days) in the fishery to prevent commercial fishermen from exceeding the total allowable catch for each management area and to prevent management areas from having to be closed early.
“Management Area 1A is of particular concern because in recent years the total allowable catch has been harvested before peak market demands abate in the autumn,” said Doug Grout, Acting Chief of Fish and Game’s Marine Fisheries Division. “This year the total allowable catch was reduced by another 5,000 metric tons, so additional harvest restrictions were needed to prevent the quota from being harvested before the fall.”
An exception to the rule is that any vessel may land herring taken as an incidental catch in ASMFC Management Area 1A, up to a maximum of 2,000 pounds.
For more information about the closure, call N.H. Fish and Game’s Marine Fisheries Division at the Department’s Region 3 office in Durham at (603) 868-1095.
The N.H. Fish and Game Department is the guardian of the state’s fish, wildlife and marine resources and their habitats.
Recent Comments