Public Input Sought on Striped Bass Addendum

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission has developed draft Addendum III to Amendment VI to the Atlantic Striped Bass Interstate Fishery Management Plan. The purpose of the addendum is to address the illegal harvest and sale of striped bass. In part, the addendum states that there are currently no reliable estimates of illegal coast-wide harvest. However, investigations by the Interstate Watershed Task Force revealed that over 1 million pounds of illegal striped bass were taken. The addendum may be viewed in its entirety by going to this link. The ASMFC will be accepting public comment on the proposed addendum until 5PM on 6/19/12. Those who would like to do so should mail their comments to Kate Taylor whose address is ASMFC, 1050 North Highland St., Suite 200 A-N, Arlington, Va. 22201, or email her at ktaylor@asmfc.org. She may also be contacted via phone at (703) 8422-0740 or fax (703) 842-0741.

JCAA will be taking a position on this matter at our general meeting on 6/26/12. Club representatives are urged to review the addendum with their clubs and to be prepared to vote on it at our meeting. In my opinion, JCAA should write a letter stating that the best way to resolve the illegal sale of striped bass would be to make them a no-sale or game fish. However, we support any measures that will help curtail the illegal harvest of striped bass. Specifically pertaining to Addendum III, we should encourage the ASMFC to adopt the following options:

• 3.1 Commercial Tagging Program Implementation - Option 2, Each state be required to have a tagging program.
• 3.1 A Tag Information and Type - Option 2, There should be a uniform coast-wide tagging program.
• 3.1 B Tag Timing - Option 2, Fish should be tagged at the point of harvest rather than the point of sale. and Sub-Option A, There should be no exceptions for the two states that currently have point of sale tagging.
• 3.1 C Tag Allowance - Option 2, We agree with the biological tag allowance.
• 3.1 D Tag Accounting - Option 2, There should be tag accountability and strict penalties for non-compliance.
• 3.1 E Reporting - Option 2, Reports should be as frequent as possible with no less than ACCSP standards.
• 3.1 F Processing - Option 2, Tags should remain with the fish until they are processed for consumption by the consumer. Fillets from the same large fish should be required to go to the same market
• 3.1 G Exportation - Option 2, All fish sold should have a commercial tag attached.
• 3.2 Penalties - We believe that penalties should be as strict as possible and include suspensions and revocations as well as the denial of tags in the year following one where the permit failed to account for all of his tags.
• 4.0 Compliance - Date should be set for states to implement the addendum once it is approved.