You are here: Home / 0 / Archives for March 2011

Striped Bass at ASMFC

March 25, 2011 By Leave a Comment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ASMFC Atlantic Striped Bass Board Initiates Addendum to Reduce Fishing Mortality
Alexandria, VA – The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board has initiated development of Draft Addendum III with the goals of reducing striped bass fishing mortality (F) up to 40% and further protecting spawning stock when it is concentrated and vulnerable. The addendum was initiated in order to allow managers to promptly respond to the results of the stock assessment update in the fall if necessary. Provisions of the addendum, if passed, could be implemented prior to the start of the 2012 fishing year.

The Board’s action responds to recent trends in the fishery and resource, including a 66% decline in estimated recreational catch from 2006 to 2009; a 25% decline in estimated striped bass abundance from 2004 to 2008; and lowered recruitment in recent years. Additionally, states in the northern extent of the fishery have expressed concern over decreased availability of striped bass as a result of the diminished water quality in the Chesapeake Bay during the summer months that may also contribute to increased prevalence of mycobacteriosis in striped bass.

Draft Addendum III will propose a range of fishing management measures including, but not limited to, adjustments to commercial and recreational minimum size (for jurisdictions outside Chesapeake Bay and Albemarle Sound/Roanoke River), reductions in annual coastal commercial allocation, reductions in recreational bag limits, revisions to the target F rate (for Chesapeake Bay and Albemarle Sound/Roanoke River), and reductions on fishing for striped bass in known spawning areas during the spawning season by at least 50% (for jurisdictions bordering the Hudson River, Delaware River, Chesapeake Bay and Albemarle Sound/Roanoke River).

The commercial and recreational fishery is currently managed through Amendment 6 to the Striped Bass Fishery Management Plan. The Amendment, passed in 2003, allocates the coastal commercial quota and set a two fish bag limit and a 28 inch size minimum for the recreational fishery, with the exception of the Chesapeake Bay fisheries, Albemarle Sound/Roanoke River fisheries, and states with approved alternative regulations.

 

Filed Under: Featured, Striped Bass

Choose Clean Water

March 25, 2011 By Leave a Comment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CCA Maryland has joined the Choose Clean Water Coalition.  We firmly believe that if the fish swim in it, we should do our best to safeguard it!  Stated goals of CCWC listed below.

 

The Work Ahead

The goal is clear – clean water. To achieve it we need get our local communities, counties and states the power and enforcement tools they need to stop the pollution of their waters. Below you will find a list of the 2011 priorities of the Choose Clean Water Coalition.

Choose Clean Water Coalition’s 2011 Policy Priorities

The Choose Clean Water Coalition is excited to announce its 2011 policy priorities.  The priorities listed below will have the most significant and direct impacts on local streams throughout the region and provide the best chance of restoring and protecting the Chesapeake Bay.

Due to historic completion of a pollution limit for the Chesapeake Bay and opportunities in the coming year, the Coalition’s primary focus in 2011 will be:

•    Ensuring local implementation of state Watershed Implementation Plans– We will work to ensure the cleanup plan for each state is implemented, meets the requirements of the pollution limit for the Chesapeake Bay (TMDL) and protects streams throughout the 64,000-square-mile Chesapeake Bay region.  The Coalition will work in all six states and the District of Columbia to assist local governments in developing strong plans to meet the challenge of the Bay TMDL.

•    Improving policies that stop polluted runoff in cities and towns – Polluted stormwater runoff is the only significant source of nutrient and sediment pollution in the Chesapeake Bay watershed that is growing. A revised national stormwater rule will set one standard for the country.  The Chesapeake community has much to gain by advocating for better protections, and opportunities for linking smart growth to better stormwater management.

•    Protecting communities from water pollution created by gas drilling – Rapid development of the industry in states across the region has overwhelmed communities with negative impacts of hydraulic fracturing (also known as hydrofracking): drinking water contamination, spills of chemical wastewater, industrialization of rural farm and forest lands and destruction of local streams and groundwater.  Working with Coalition members in the headwaters of the Chesapeake Bay watershed, we will share critical information about where hydrofracking and legacy mining impacts are occurring and best practices to test water quality, and champion federal policies that increase transparency and accountability for polluters.

•    Ensuring continued federal investment in Chesapeake Bay watershed restoration and protection– Since 1983 the Chesapeake Bay has been a priority of the White House and the U.S. Congress, yielding critical federal appropriations for protection and restoration of the rivers and streams that flow into its waters.  We will continue to advocate for these federal dollars that are matched with local and state dollars for on-the-ground work to protect water resources.  Specifically, we will demand that there are no rollbacks in funding and regulations at the time when they are needed most.   This includes critical transportation and farm bill funding.

Coalition members voted to approve these priorities January 10th, 2011

Filed Under: Advocacy, Featured

Menhaden Management Finally begins

March 25, 2011 By 2 Comments

 

 

 

 

News Release

Coastal Conservation Association

6919 Portwest, Suite 100, Houston, TX 77024

Email: twvenker@joincca.org Website: www.joincca.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 24, 2011

CONTACT: Ted Venker, 1-800-201-FISH

 

Menhaden Management Finally Begins

ASMFC takes first steps to rebuild menhaden forage base

ALEXANDRIA, VA – For the first time ever, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission took steps to rein in the industrial harvest of menhaden and begin the process of managing the menhaden fishery. If adopted, the measures proposed today by the Menhaden Management Board would lead to a reduction of menhaden harvest in both the reduction and bait fisheries.

“After years of inaction, this is an excellent first step toward recovering a critical forage base,” said Richen Brame, CCA Atlantic States Fisheries director. “This action is significant, simply because the science on menhaden as a vital forage base is improving, and it is the science that is now driving this process. Some folks will feel that the proposals today do not go far enough, but it is imperative to point out that although this does not get us across the plate, it does get us in scoring position.”

The latest menhaden stock assessment showed the stock was undergoing overfishing and abundance estimates were at the lowest level ever recorded. Current science indicates that the menhaden spawning stock biomass is at about 9 percent of a stock that is not subjected to any fishing pressure. The Menhaden Management Board voted to start an addendum that would increase the spawning stock biomass to15 percent.

“That would end overfishing, cause about a 10 percent reduction in landings, and potentially increase spawning stock by more than 50 percent,” said Brame.

These are interim measures that will likely be in place for three to five years until a Multi-Species Virtual Population Analysis can be conducted, which will require stock assessment updates on bluefish, striped bass, weakfish and menhaden stock.

“When that analysis is conducted, it is very possible we will have a much better idea of the population of menhaden needed to fully serve as the critical forage base for those popular sport fish,” said Brame. “The picture is constantly evolving, and we appreciate that the Menhaden Management Board worked to develop a suite of management options to use in the interim that will begin rebuilding menhaden.”

The draft addendum will be developed over the summer to be approved for public comment at the ASMFC’s August meeting.  Public hearings will be held along the entire Atlantic seaboard this fall, with final action at the ASMFC’s November Annual Meeting in Massachusetts. If adopted, management restrictions could be in place for the 2012 fishing season.

 

###

 

CCA is the largest marine resource conservation group of its kind in the nation. With almost 100,000 members in 17 state chapters, CCA has been active in state, national and international fisheries management issues since 1977. For more information visit the CCA Newsroom at www.JoinCCA.org.

Filed Under: Advocacy, Featured, Menhaden, National

Griffin Letter

March 23, 2011 By Leave a Comment

 

 

 

 

 

 

CCA Maryland
ANNAPOLIS • BALTIMORE • GREATER WASHINGTON • KENT NARROWS • LOWER SHORE • MID-SHORE • NORTH ANNE ARUNDEL • PATUXENT RIVER • UPPER BAY
March 10, 2011
Via email to jgriffin@dnr.state.md.us
The Honorable John R. Griffin
Maryland Department of Natural Resources
580 Taylor Avenue
Annapolis, MD 21401
Dear Secretary Griffin:
Although CCA Maryland was disappointed with the reopening of the February
striped bass gill net season, we were pleased to see the steps taken by DNR to
monitor the two-day fishery. Your commitment to reforming the gill net fishery
and challenge to the commercial industry to take a lead in doing so is highly
commendable, especially given your stated position that without significant
changes the fishery could be phased out. We look forward to having an open
dialogue with the Department and other stakeholder groups to identify the current
problems and possible solutions.
Unfortunately, the very act of reopening the fishery highlighted some substantial
long-term issues. The commercial industry has called for more intense and
frequent Natural Resources Police (NRP) patrols to help control the outlaws
within their ranks. However, illegal gill nets were set in February even with the
increased efforts of the NRP. Is there a place in Maryland for a fishery that so
easily lends itself to abuses while consuming such a high level of the
Department’s resources? Does the Department believe a fishery that requires
extreme levels of law enforcement, coupled with stationing DNR personnel at
check stations, is sustainable both from a manpower and financial standpoint?
CCA Maryland is also concerned that accountability, enforcement and
conservation issues may exist with the State’s pound net fishery. Handling nontargeted
fish while emptying pound nets may result in significantly high mortality
that is not fully understood. Pound nets set in the spring have the ability to catch
spawning striped bass, not to mention hickory shad, american shad and river
herring. Meanwhile, the Department expends considerable financial and
Secretary John Griffin, DNR
March 10, 2011
Page 2 of 2
manpower resources elsewhere protecting these very same species, the majority of which can’t
be commercially sold. We believe this bycatch needs to be considered to insure that managers
fully understand the overall impact that pound nets may have on the Bay. For these reasons,
CCA Maryland requests that the Department extend its analysis of the gill net fishery to include
the pound net fishery, and to make any appropriate management changes there as well.
As mentioned in our February 10th letter, we believe recreational anglers must also be
accountable for their role in the fishery. We believe the key to better accountability is better data
on angler effort. The Department’s new licensing system should facilitate the collection of userspecific
information and provide for more accurate angler surveys. However, we urge the
Department to devote more resources to additional and enhanced intercept surveys of
recreational anglers throughout the year. We also ask the Department to take the lead in
communicating the principles and benefits of careful catch & release fishing practices with
outreach and education to help reduce mortality rates.
Similar to how the Department plans to work with the commercial sector to reform that industry,
we look forward to working with you, your staff and other stakeholders to identify areas where
improvements can be made on the recreational side to insure we all enjoy the benefits of an
enforceable, sustainable and accountable fishery.
Sincerely,
Ed Liccione
Chairman
cc: Joseph P. Gill, Deputy Secretary
Frank W. Dawson, Assistant Secretary for Aquatic Resources
Thomas J. O’Connell, Director- Fisheries Service

Filed Under: Featured