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Progress Map
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NY Southwick Study
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Stripers Forever members – we are proud to announce that SF partnered with the Fisherman’s Conservation Association of New York http://www.joinfca.com/ to commission the latest state-specific version of the Southwick Study, which addresses the socio-economic factors surrounding striped bass fishing in the state of New York. It is just being released, and here are a couple of the important findings.
· Making striped bass a game fish would produce $85.7 million in additional economic activity for the state of New York's economy.
· Currently the recreational fishery provides 2,753 full time equivalent jobs, and the commercial fishery only 568. Making the striped bass a game fish would add 277 net new full time equivalent jobs, bringing total employment by the recreational striped bass fishery in New York to 3,598 jobs.
· Recreational fishing for striped bass now produces $364.5 million in economic impacts compared to just $26.3 million for the commercial fishery.
· The value of the commercial fishery is fully dependant on killing large numbers of fish whereas the recreational fishery, utilizing stringent bag limits or catch and release regulations, can be sustained even during the inevitable times when striper populations are low.
· To read either the four-page summary Roadmap, or the full N. Y. Southwick Study, go back to the button on the left side of the Stripers Forever website home page that says “Southwick Study On Line”. There you'll also find the full national study, and the studies for Massachusetts and Maryland. All documents are dowloadable as PDF files, and they can also be ordered from Stripers Forever
in printed form.
Copies of the Roadmap and Full NY Southwick Study are being mailed to a large list of political contacts and fishery management executives just as was done last month for the Maryland report. We have also sent a press release announcing the study to a large list of NY area press contacts. The press release directs press contacts to the SF website for more information.
When you've read the Roadmap or the full study, we hope that those of you who live or fish in New York will contact Governor Pataki or Governor-elect Spitzer and Director of Marine Resources, Gordon Colvin. You'll find their contact information on the SF website by clicking on the State of NY on our home page map. Send these men an e-mail that urges them to act on the findings of the Southwick Study and to take steps to end the commercial fishery for striped bass in New York. Tell them that a purely
recreational/personal use fishery will provide both economic and employment benefits to the state of New York. Just as importantly, making striped bass a game fish will help to conserve this irreplaceable species for the benefit of current and future generations of the fishing public.
Brad Burns President Stripers Forever
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