The Times

According to data gathered in 2003, the study titled, "The Economics of Recreational and Commercial Striped Bass Fishing in Massachusetts," shows the recreational fishery for wild striped bass in the Commonwealth comprises nearly 549,000 resident sportsmen and has a direct retail sales value of $650 million spent on fishing tackle, boats and motors, guides/charters, travel and food.

Stripers caught privately in Massachusetts waters generate almost $237 per pound in economic impacts, but less than $23 per pound if commercially harvested, according to the Southwick Study. The total economic activity generated by the recreational fishery - including 10,986 full-time equivalent jobs - was more than 47 times greater than that produced by the commercial harvest of wild fish, a seasonal business which supports only 524 such jobs.

The study also explains the production of hybrid striped bass raised through aquiculture has increased 222 percent in the past 10 years, and that fish suppliers in Massachusetts would be able to meet any consumer demand for striped bass in the Commonwealth by replacing all wild bass sold seasonally with farmed fish available on a year-round basis at basically the same retail price.

Stripers Forever, a non-profit, Internet-based membership organization (www.stripersforever.org ) advocates eliminating all commercial fishing for wild striped bass and managing the resource for recreational and personal fishing.

Southwick Associates, Inc., based in Fernandina Beach, Fla., specializes in collecting and analyzing socio-economic information on fishing and hunting.

The wild striped bass is far and away the most popular and valuable sport fish in Massachusetts waters, says Brad Burns, president of Stripers Forever. By comparison, the commercial fishery is, in large measure, a seasonal hobby practiced by a handful of mostly recreational fishermen who exploit a hugely important public resource for their personal benefit.

Burns adds that about 50 percent of the entire Massachusetts commercial harvest in 2002 was taken by only 145 permit holders during a season that lasted just 21 days.

Stripers Forever supports legislation which would eliminate all commercial fishing for wild striped bass throughout their range. Stripers Forever is also in favor of using funds raised through the sale of a dedicated recreational striped-bass stamp to buy out those licensed commercial harvesters who can document that a significant portion of their income is derived from historical landings of wild striped bass.

To access a road map that summarizes the findings of the Southwick Study, and to read the full study, log onto www.stripersforever.org. For further information, contact Brad Burns at (207) 797-7224.

The study just highlighted was done on the striped bass population in Massachusetts. It does, however, have its applications to New Jersey.

While the striped bass is a gamefish in New Jersey and commercial harvesting is not permitted, the economic impact of recreational fishing for striped bass on the state's economy is even greater.

Over the years, studies have been done on the money spent by recreational fishermen in New Jersey and some have shown that close to a billion dollars is spent annually by resident and non-resident anglers in the Garden State, much of which is a direct result of fishing for striped bass.

That being said, one has to wonder why the state doesn't more vigorously defend the rights of recreational fishermen.

A good point in case is the current attempt by recreational fishermen to have the size and bag limits changed to come in line with it's bordering states. The current laws allow fishermen to keep one fish larger than 24 inches but less than 28 inches, and one fish at 34 inches and over.

Fishermen are also allowed to keep a third fish of 28 inches or over if they are participating in the state's bonus tag program. These faulty regulations are hard to enforce.

Legislation to change the law so that anglers are allowed to keep two fish at 28 inches and over and simplify the regulations has been proposed, yet there has been no movement on the legislation in close to a year. It's time the New Jersey legislators passed the necessary legislation to bring New Jersey's bass regulations in line with surrounding states.

Another area where the state does nothing for the recreational angler is in the legal department. Every time the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) ups size limits and cuts bag limits and seasons, the Division of Fish and Wildlife does nothing but force recreational fishermen to comply with their unfair demands.

Never have they taken the ASMFC to court to defend recreational fisherman's rights. All the Division tells recreational anglers is that if the state does not yield to the demands of the ASMFC the state will be deemed out of compliance and the particular fishery will be shut down.

Other states have gotten injunctions to keep the ASMFC from shutting down a fishery and taken the ASMFC to court and won. Yet New Jersey is unwilling to defend recreational fishermen.

All this has happened because of the unfair regulations anglers have been forced to live with. More and more sportsmen are keeping under-sized fish, taking fish out of season and keeping more than the meager limits they are allowed.

The Massachusetts study proves the value of recreational fishing to that state's economy. New Jersey's recreational fishing is worth far more money, yet the state does little or nothing promote matters.

With the New Jersey elections just around the corner, we can only hope the next governor will see the value of recreational fishing and take steps to protect and promote it.