Here is what the RFA is backing. I added the chart of proposed regulations below.
After discussion with anglers, business owners, fisheries managers and biologists, the Recreational Fishing Alliance (RFA) fully supports a reduction in striped bass harvest along the Atlantic Coast, with an equal reduction to both the commercial and recreational sectors. Based on our own ‘anecdotal’ observations and extensive review of the stock assessment and recruitment data, RFA believes it’s important to reduce fishing mortality to a level that is at or below the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) target reference point as of 2015, and not by delaying action over several years.
With regard to the ASMFC options presented to the public, RFA staff, chapter leaders, board members and volunteers have given consideration of the organization’s stated mission (“to safeguard the rights of saltwater anglers, protect marine, boat and tackle industry jobs and ensure the long-term sustainability of U.S. saltwater fisheries”), and we believe that one option in particular presents the most efficient way of meeting the needs of the fish, the fishermen and the recreational fishing industry.
For the coastal recreational fishing sector, RFA views the following immediate and long-term benefits of Option B1, a bag limit of one fish at the current 28-inch minimum size limit:
1. Reducing the individual bag limit by one fish offers a 31% reduction in harvest (according to ASMFC), but would also effectively cut the number of broodstock fish harvested during the spring migration when pre- and post-spawn fish are congregated in key areas.
2. Keeping the size limit at 28 inches will reduce bycatch mortality resulting from any increase in size limit (proposed in options B1, B2 or B5); the ‘one at 28’ option allows anglers fishing specifically for harvest to catch their ‘table’ fish more efficiently without undue harm caused to undersized fish.
3. While a traditional ‘slot’ option to preserve and protect smaller fish and breeding fish alike is a sensible management option, RFA is concerned about the current recruitment classes; with the 2010 and 2011 recruitment years being the most robust of recent record, it’s important to protect those females until better than 90% can spawn (age 5-8) at least once before harvest.
4. ASFMC has previously stated that reducing fishing mortality on fish aged 8-12 (32- to 40-inch fish) by half would result in “much greater egg production in the stock and an age distribution in which older fish are much more dominant”; as such, any slot option (proposed in options B4, B6, B7, B8, or B9) which focuses undue harvest pressure on more ‘fertile’ age/size fish in the stock could be counterproductive to conservation efforts.
5. RFA continues to place little faith in the NOAA Fisheries (NMFS) and their ability to effectively account for recreational fishing effort and harvest. Specifically, options B2, B3, B4, B7, B8 and B9 are footnoted to indicate that “data available to estimate the percent reduction is limited because the combination of a bag limit and size limit changes simultaneously means only measured fish from the Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP) were included in the analysis which is a small subsample of the MRIP dataset for striped bass.” Since NMFS has limited data to make such calculations, there is far less confidence in calculating overall impact of such options.
Based in part on these five key bullet points, RFA is expected to deliver an official position of supporting B1, a bag limit of one fish at the current 28-inch minimum size limit for the coastal recreational fishing sector, with changes to be implemented as of 2015. The final comments are due to the ASMFC by 5 p.m. on September 30, 2014. If you’re an active RFA member who would like to discuss RFA’s expected position by phone, call 888-564-6732, or email news@joinrfa.org to let us know how you feel!
