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Scientists say stripers are well

Scientists who study striped bass have good news for government officials who regulate fishing for stripers.

Conservation measures are working.

A benchmark striper study, recently endorsed by an independent panel of scientists advising the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, concluded that striped bass are not overfished, and overfishing in not occurring. The assessment estimates that the striper population remains at a high level. The population of spawning female fish weighs an estimated 55 million pounds, well above the target of 38.6 million pounds.

The commission includes representatives from each of the coastal states; they are meeting this week in Alexandria, Va. Among their findings on striped bass:

Recreational fishermen took nearly three times more bass than commercial fishermen in 2006.

The total striped bass harvest (commercial and recreational) was estimated at 3.82 million fish, a 46 percent increase from 2002 when new regulations were enacted.

The commercial harvest of 1.05 million fish was dominated by Maryland's commercial fisheries, which made up 62 percent of the total commercial landings by number in 2006.

Recreational fishermen took 2.77 million fish.

Commercial discard deaths in 2006 were estimated at 216,753 fish.

Recreational discard deaths were estimated at 2.07 million fish.

Combined, the number of stripers killed intentionally and unintentionally by recreational fishermen accounted for 79 percent of the bass killed in 2006.

Maryland recreational fisheries harvested 24 percent of total recreational landings in number, followed by Virginia (22 percent), New Jersey (18 percent), Massachusetts (12 percent), and New York (11 percent).

Based on advice from scientists, regulators from the coastal states recommended maintaining the status quo in fishing limits this season.

More information about the commission's work is online here

Posted by Tom Meade  at 1:02 PM | Permalink