Rockfish

March 27, 2022.  Striped bass, more commonly known as “rockfish” or “stripers,” are perhaps the most iconic fish in the Chesapeake Bay region. However, in recent years, the population of these beloved fish has plummeted. In an effort to reverse this decline, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) is in the midst of a multi-year process to rebuild the population. And they need to hear from you!

This is an important step in revising the long-term plan for the management of this important fish. Join VSSA in urging ASMFC to help ensure a robust fishery management plan for rockfish before the April 15 deadline.  Please complete this form below. 

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This is the response ASMFC will receive from you (the text box above may appear unformatted, but the email sent will be formatted as noted below).  Feel free to edit if you want to………..

The Virginia Saltwater Sportfishing Association was founded in 2015 and currently represents over 600 anglers and six fishing clubs in the Commonwealth of Virginia. According to Southwick Associates, the Striped Bass fishery provides a huge socio and economic value with over 100,000 jobs, generating close to $8 billion annually.  At one time, in the not-too-distant past, Striped Bass represented a huge success story in rebuilding a stock.

Unfortunately, since that previous rebuilding occurred, ASMFC’s Striped Bass Management Board has been slow to react in maintaining this iconic fishery. Due to the previous inaction from the Striped Bass Management Board, VSSA believes immediate action is called for in rebuilding the Striped Bass population and supports the most conservation-oriented positions.

VSSA submits the following recommendations for The Striped Bass Management Boards consideration.

MANAGEMENT TRIGGERS – Section 4.1

Tier 1 Fishing Mortality Triggers – VSSA strongly believes we should maintain the Status Quo on the existing Management Triggers. Accordingly, VSSA supports:

• Option A1: status quo – Reduce F to a level that is at or below the target within one

• Option B1: status quo – Same as Option A1 – Reduce F to a level that is at or below the target within one year

• Option C1: status quo – If F exceeds the F target for two consecutive years… the striped bass
  management program must be adjusted to reduce F to a level that is at or below the
  target within one year.

Tier 2-Female Spawning Stock Biomass (SSB) Management Triggers – implements a 2-year deadline to act and forces a 10-year rebuilding plan (no more kicking the can down the road).

• Option A2: VSSA supports a 2-year deadline to implement a rebuilding plan. The Board must implement a rebuilding plan within two years from when an SSB-based management trigger is tripped.

• Option B1: VSSA supports the status quo

• Option C1: VSSA supports the status quo

Tier 3-Recruitment Triggers – VSSA supports using trigger alternative with higher sensitivity.

• Option A2: The recruitment trigger more sensitive than the status quo but less sensitive than sub-option A3. This trigger alternative would have tripped three times since 2003: NY in 2006; MD in 2010; MD in 2014 (VSSA position revised 030822)

• Option B2: If the recruitment trigger is tripped…F target must be reduced within one year

Tier 4- Deferred Management Actions. VSSA believes immediate action is required (no more kicking the can down the road).

• Option A: No deferred action if any or all of the triggers are tripped, the board is required to act.

RECCREATIONAL RELEASE MORTALITY- Section 4.2.2 The Draft Amendment 7 Plan denotes number of fish that die after release is greater than the harvest. VSSA believes steps must be taken now to reduce mortality. Accordingly, VSSA supports both effort controls (seasonal closures) and gear restrictions.

• Option A: VSSA supports the status quo (circle hook measures)

• Option B1: limited support – State Specific Two-Week Closures. VSSA notes two weeks may or may not be enough. For example, VSSA believes the current two-week closure is woefully inadequate in Maryland during the warm summer months.

• Option B2: VSSA supports – Effort Closures in Spawning Area for both Recreational and Commercial Harvest. Additionally, VSSA strongly believes there should be additional restrictions placed on the commercial harvest of pre-spawn Striped Bass. We are not saying reduce the commercial quota. We advocate moving the harvest to non-pre-spawn months.

• Option C1: VSSA supports – Additional Gear Restrictions – permit only non-lethal devices for removing fish.

• Option C2: VSSA supports – Additional Gear Restrictions – any fish caught on any unapproved method must be returned to the water

• Option D1: VSSA supports – Outreach and Education – States are required to develop public education and outreach campaigns

REBUILDING PLAN – Section 4.4.1

• Option B: VSSA supports rebuilding the female SSB no later than 2029 using the low recruitment regime assumption and understands that may result in more restrictive management measures

.4.4.2 Rebuilding Plan Framework

• Option B: VSSA supports permitting the Management Board to take action in response to 2022 benchmark assessment without having to go through an amendment or public comment period.

MANAGEMENT PROGRAM EQUIVALENCY – 4.6.2 aka Conservational Equivalency (CE). The current use of CE allows states too much flexibility in meeting ASMFC directives.  In the last Management Action, the Board was faced with in excess of 40 CE proposals from the states with no penalties if the CE plans failed. VSSA strongly believes Conservation Equivalency should not be allowed or used when the fishery is overfished and overfishing is occurring. Not allowing CE was not one of the options presented. Accordingly, VSSA supports the following:

• Sub-Option B1a: VSSA supports no CE when the stock is at or below the biomass threshold.

• Sub-Option B1c: VSSA supports no CE when the fishing mortality is at or above the fishing mortality threshold.

• Sub-Option B2b: VSSA supports no Quota managed recreational fisheries (e.g., bonus programs)

• Sub-Option C3: VSSA supports Default Precision Standards for MRIP Estimates – 30%

• Sub-Option D2: VSSA supports Default CE uncertainty buffer non-quota managed fisheries – 25%. This option provides states with an incentive to design specific CE efforts to increase accuracy.

• Sub-Option E2: VSSA supports Percent reduction at the state-specific level

As additional information, if CE is allowed, VSSA believes payback should be required in the following year for any state not meeting the objectives set in any approved CE proposal.

 Public comment was not requested on section 5.6.1 Spawning Area Closures (Pg 89 of the PID) VSSA strongly endorses the prohibition of fishing on the spawning grounds during the spawning season. In addition to the mandatory spawning closures [if selected in Section 4.2.2; delete if not-selected], states are encouraged to maintain existing spawning closures and evaluate the need for additional spawning closures.

VSSA submits the following Comment on Section 5.6.1:

• VSSA firmly believes if any area is closed for any reason, neither recreational nor commercial fishing should be allowed in that area. If one sector (recreational or commercial) is not allowed to harvest during any period, neither sector should be allowed to harvest. Moreover, VSSA believes the Spawning areas should be closed pre spawn to both Recreational and Commercial harvest. We are not advocating Commercial quota be reduced; we advocate the harvest effort be shifted away from the pre spawning period.

Amendment 7 will set the course for the future of this iconic fishery. VSSA urges the Striped Bass Management board to act with urgency and implement the measures necessary to rebuild this fishery. Thank you in advance for considering our position on the issues in Amendment 7.

 

Respectfully,

Insert Your Name

 

March 6, 2022.  It is time to talk about striped bass again.  We know many have moved on from striped bass believing the fishery is pretty much gone and anglers have moved on to other species.  But we believe the stocks can be rebuilt and recover.  If you rewind just 10 years ago, 20 years ago Virginia was the Rockfish capitol of the world with the best striped bass fishing in the world.  Our only path forward is to get all the states on the east coast to put conservation measures in place to allow the stocks time to recover.  Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) has a draft Amendment out to try to accomplish this goal.  There are a series a public hearings coming up to hear from anglers on the draft.  VSSA Government Affairs Committee led by John Bello has taken a deep dive into this complex document and have put together some draft input.  We have to get all the states to put stricter management measures in place in particular Maryland which has always taken more than their fair share of the stocks with seasons open pretty much all year.  There are two opportunities in Virgina to make public comment directly to ASMFC.  

Tuesday, March 8, 4:00 to 6:00 pm Potomac River Fisheries Commission, 222 Taylor St, Colonial Beach, VA 22443

Wednesday, March 9, 6:00 to 8:00 pm Virginia Marine Resource Commission Online only via webinar https://register.gotowebinar.com/rt/6557659292797688075

You should also send your comments to Emilie Franke, FMP Coordinator, at 1050N. Highland St., Suite 200 A-N, Arlington, Virginia 22201; 703.842.0741 (fax) or at comments@asmfc.org
(Subject line: Draft Amendment 7) by April 15, 2022.

VSSA has prepared some comments you can use if you agree with them or you can formulate your own comments.  VSSA Comments to Draft Amendment 7

The full document can be downloaded here.  

Please show up at one of the public hearings and take a turn at the microphone or at a minimum send you comments in via letter or email.