Reallocation for Conservation

[B-Faithful]

Reds, our commercial harvest is out of line with other states in the ASMFC. Yet, our recreational seasons continue to come underfire. This reallocation may even stand to benefit some watermen through enabling them to make more per fish harvested as currently the gold resource is being sold a copper prices.

Given how this reallocation is intended to be used and stated as protection in case of a larger take under current regulations, I doubt the ASMFC will redistribute to other areas along the coast. Hopefully, given the concerns over some stock indicies starting to arise at the ASMFC, I doubt such a move would be done anytime soon and could be used to push back at other states for other conservation moves to take place. Should stock numbers look good in a few years and Maryland remains at or below its target on the recreational side, then DNR may need to look at seasons and regulations for both commercial and recreational.

[5th Tuition]

I wish I had a "chrystal ball" that would explain what happened to the rockfish population. Either the stock is in good condition, and they aren't here; or the stock is in serious trouble.
Last Spring, all I heard was that the spawn was going to be late because of all the cold and snow. Then when the spawn didn't show up during the regular time (mid March-May); the theory was that they came in EARLY and spawned. The yoy index doesn't seem to support this.
Now, for the fall run; the theory is that the water temps are not cold enough to have driven the stock down the coast and into the bay. They say the majority of the fish are still off the coast and headed this way.
Even last winter, the stock didn't act normally. Reports I heard were that the stock remained out past the 3 mile limit and many boats had to resort to illegally chashing them offshore.
I really don't know what has happened. Is the stock sound and they have changed their pattern? Or, is the stock in serious trouble, as the yoy might indicate?

Does someone know how the fishing was all along the coast this year? Are the northern states having a banner year, or are their numbers depressed like ours?

Dumbfounded, 5th (Marty)

[drichitt]

Marty - From what I have read, the fall fishing up off of Long Island was awesome; best in years. They were surprised how long the bait had stayed in the area, which held the fish there. I am afraid by the time the fish are ready to migrate up into our bay, it will be too cold and most of them will just continue down the coast to be slaughtered again this winter off Va. Just my .02....Don

[reds]

Originally Posted by B-Faithful

Reds, our commercial harvest is out of line with other states in the ASMFC. Yet, our recreational seasons continue to come underfire. This reallocation may even stand to benefit some watermen through enabling them to make more per fish harvested as currently the gold resource is being sold a copper prices.

Given how this reallocation is intended to be used and stated as protection in case of a larger take under current regulations, I doubt the ASMFC will redistribute to other areas along the coast. Hopefully, given the concerns over some stock indicies starting to arise at the ASMFC, I doubt such a move would be done anytime soon and could be used to push back at other states for other conservation moves to take place. Should stock numbers look good in a few years and Maryland remains at or below its target on the recreational side, then DNR may need to look at seasons and regulations for both commercial and recreational.

Maryland's Commercial harvest is out of whose line?

It's the same as it's been since the moratorium. The allocation is written in stone in Maryland's law at 42.5 percent of Maryland's quota.

Don't doubt what ASMFC will do.
One only has to look up the coast to New Jersey and see what they had to do with the commercial quota in order to keep from losing it. (New Jersey wanted to give it to the rec anglers)

For those that don't know New Jersey has a commercial quota that is counted in the total commercial catch. BUT it's caught by recreational anglers. They had to make use of smoke and mirrors to keep from losing the commercial allocation.

One last thing. Do your home work on Striped Bass prices. Maryland enjoys good off the boat prices until the other states flood the market with their catch.

[SimpleBiology]

It's as simple as this, conservation is needed on all fronts. A little here and a little there will provide a sustainable resource for everyone.

[B-Faithful]

Marylands commercial harvest is out of line in the sense that it makes up nearly 1/3 of the entire commercial take in lbs. That doesnt include the potomac river numbers either!

Even good "off the boat prices" are still selling our gold resource at copper prices. A reduction in commercial allocation may even benefit some watermen through increasing the prices for their harvest.

I am aware of what NJ did. They gave striped bass gamefish status and their recreational fishermen the commercial allocation through trophy tags to keep from losing it. I believe the MSSA is asking for commercial allocation to be given to rec side to cover seasons like 2009. I dont believe unused allocation would be redistributed to other states given the recent exceeding of the rec targets here in MD. Should the fish population look great in a few years and Maryland is hitting the targets, then Maryland may need to look at where unused allocation can be used to expand our fisheries as to not lose fish to redistribution. Until then, this reallocation is necessary to protect our recreational fishing and act as conservation initiative given the growing concerns at the ASMFC and within our own DNR.

It certainly be interesting to see how DNR responds to this paragraph of the letter given their concerns over preseason C&R (not to confuse the subjects):

Anglers have also specifically expressed concerns over the winter gillnet season and the YOY indices. With the possibility of global warming and the potential for an earlier spawn, some anglers are troubled that the setting of long gillnets may have an ill-effect on fish migrating into the bay to spawn. It is because of this concern that I suggest that the greatest commercial allocation reduction come from this fishery in particular.

[reds]

Originally Posted by B-Faithful

Marylands commercial harvest is out of line in the sense that it makes up nearly 1/3 of the entire commercial take in lbs. That doesnt include the potomac river numbers either!

Even good "off the boat prices" are still selling our gold resource at copper prices. A reduction in commercial allocation may even benefit some watermen through increasing the prices for their harvest.

I am aware of what NJ did. They gave striped bass gamefish status and their recreational fishermen the commercial allocation through trophy tags to keep from losing it. I believe the MSSA is asking for commercial allocation to be given to rec side to cover seasons like 2009. I dont believe unused allocation would be redistributed to other states given the recent exceeding of the rec targets here in MD. Should the fish population look great in a few years and Maryland is hitting the targets, then Maryland may need to look at where unused allocation can be used to expand our fisheries as to not lose fish to redistribution. Until then, this reallocation is necessary to protect our recreational fishing and act as conservation initiative given the growing concerns at the ASMFC and within our own DNR.

It certainly be interesting to see how DNR responds to this paragraph of the letter given their concerns over preseason C&R (not to confuse the subjects):

The last time MSSA got greedy with the Striped Bass and tried to cut the throat of the commercial user group , it created a rift within MSSA. I don't expect anything different this time.

Don't expect the DNR to take MSSA's side on this matter, they still have people working for them, who remember the last time.

[Mikie]

So after reading this thread, my take on it is the recreational sector is EXCEEDING their quota, so they want to take some of the commercial quota (which is closely monitored and the season can be closed in a matter of hours if the quota is reached) to make up for their excesses. Anybody ever hear of the word GREED? It's time for mandatory recreational reporting on a daily basis to get a timely count on the harvest (of ALL species, not just striped bass) so the seasons can be closed before the quotas are exceeded.

[B-Faithful]

The recreational side does not operate under quotas. They have targets. The target was exceeded in 2009. However it was well under the target (by 33%) for this current year. The 2009 number is so out of wack and viewed as an anomaly that it is being investigated by the ASMFC. The exceeding of the target should not occur unless we have stretches of good weather, an exceptionally good year of fishing, or other unique factors. Therefore this would be far more of an act of conservation. However it would provide protection to if and when on occassion we exceed the targets Maryland has in order to protect the benefits of recreational fishing. MSSA is not asking for season extensions or liberalization of current recreational regulations.

[B-Faithful]

Update:

the initiative has received the endorcement of Stripers Forever. (www.stripersforever.org) Here is a letter to the MSSA:

I read Candy Thomson’s column today that your organization is calling for the commercial quota of striped bass to be reallocated to recreational fishing, but then set aside for conservation. We at Stripers Forever strongly support this view. In our work to make striped bass a game fish we have also repeatedly asked to have the commercial quota set aside for conservation.

Stripers Forever will be reintroducing legislation in Maasachusetts again this winter to designate striped bass as game fish, thus eliminating the commercial fishery in that state. Massachusetts commercial fishermen kill over 100,000 breeding sized stripers a year – a number which includes a modest estimate for commercial discards and the well recognized unreported catch. It is heartening to know that officials in other jurisdictions will be getting the message from a respected organizations like MSSA that striped bass are simply too valuable as a recreational or personal use resource to be squandered.

Please let us know if there is anything that we can do to help you.

George Watson, Treasurer
for the board of Stripers Forever