Striped bass is a fully rebuilt stock managed by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC). According to ASMFC managers, in a little more than 15 years, the striped bass resource has rebuilt from a historic low of about 20 million pounds to an historic high of 160 million pounds. A recent report by NMFS titled "Estimation of Striped Bass Discards in the Multispecies Groundfish Fishery During the 2002 Fishing Year" reveals that striper bycatch is in fact occuring during a very discernable timeframe (September and October) and in a very discernable area (statistical area 521, a.k.a. the Great South Channel). In fact observer coverage has ascertained that 84% of wasted striped bass occurs during this timeframe and in this area after the commercial season is closed.
Anyone interested in a long term solution to this problem that maybe you should consider supporting the Saxton bill (HR2889) in order to give striped bass the long term protection they need.
http://congress.org/congressorg/webr...c108:H.R.2889:
Striper ByCatch in Great South Channel
