Stripers Forever Members - the negative effects of commercial fishing for striped bass go well beyond the numbers of striped bass killed by actual fishing. Two of the most negative are the impact that commercial fishing ideology - an uncaught fish is a missed opportunity - has on the management process itself, and the use of destructive gear types. Among the worst of the gear types is a technique called yo-yoing that is commonly used in the MA and RI commercial fisheries for large striped bass. A dead menhaden is stuffed with a couple of sinkers,
and a piece of hardware such as a spring is used to connect a treble hook located in the vent of the menhaden with another that sews the lips shut. Any bass that swallows this rig has its fate sealed on the spot. Smaller bass can't be released, and any fish that might break the line is doomed. Unfortunately this kind of barbaric technique is held up as an example of productive fishing to new or otherwise impressionable anglers, be they commercial or recreational.
We've sent the letter at the end of this email to Paul Diodati, the Director of the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries asking that he take immediate action to end this practice
We urge you to chime in and write or e-mail Mr. Diodati, as well as the fishery director in your own state - they are all available by clicking on the map on the home page of the SF website - and give him the same message. If you are a member of a fishing club they should send him that letter too. Brad Burns
2/10/2007
Paul Diodati, Director
Division of Marine Fisheries
251 Causeway Street
Boston, MA 02114
Dear Mr. Diodati:
The board of Stripers Forever, on behalf of our membership in Massachusetts, requests that you implement regulations for the 2008 and future seasons that eliminate the practice of yo-yoing and similarly destructive fishing techniques known to be used in the commercial striped bass fishery. Yo-yoing kills excessive amounts of fish since released or lost fish often contain large amounts of lead, and the swallowed hardware of the yo-yo rig is no doubt fatal to the fish in a relatively short period of time. We suggest that within the state waters of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts it should be illegal to insert or attach weights or sinkers either into or directly onto either live or dead bait.
Both commercial and recreational striped bass fishing routinely require the release of many undersized striped bass. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts should only allow fishing techniques that are conducive to overall national conservation efforts of this important species while in our waters.
Stripers Forever is committed to seeing wild striped bass designated as a game fish in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Removing the commercial price tag from this wonderful fish will solve a number of resource management problems including the use of some destructive commercial fishing techniques like yo-yoing, which unfortunately has become an example to novice recreational anglers.
Sincerely,
Fred Jennings
Fred Jennings
Massachusetts State Chairman
cc: Governor Deval Patrick
cc: Sevretary Ian Bowles
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