Stripers Forever's testimony to the ASMFC on the proposed commercial quota increase is attached. We are at a very important point in striped bass management. In the past, commercial fishing advocates on the ASMFC have pushed for greater commercial quotas for several species, even as those populations collapsed. This strategy gives them a larger percentage of the catch down the road when the species recovers, because they can claim that this was their historic percentage. Of course we disagree completely with this thinking, and we are flabbergasted
at the idea of increasing the killing of striped bass at a time when it is undisputed that the population is declining. This decline is causing pain throughout the far more economically valuable recreational fishing industry, as well as decreasing fishing opportunities for members of the public.
This issue will not be decided until the ASFMC Novemember meeting, and before that time we will present our written testimony and we urge you to do the same. It is important to contact not just the state directors, many of whom are simply instruments of the commercial fishing community, but also the state governors, who control these directors,. Also we must protest to representatives of the NMFS and USFW, who also have voices on the ASMF and are voting members.. We will leave no stone unturned while speaking out against this proposed commercial quota increase.
In the meantime we urge you to attend the public hearings and speak up strongly against any increases in the commercial fishing quotas. Our attached letter will give you what we feel are several of the key arguments against increasing the quota.
States Schedule Hearings on Striped Bass Draft Addendum II
Public Comment Accepted Until October 1
Washington, DC – Atlantic coastal states from Maine through North Carolina have scheduled their hearings to gather public comment on Draft Addendum II to Amendment 6 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Striped Bass. The dates, times, and locations of the scheduled
meetings follow:
Maine Department of Marine Resources
September 14, 2010; 6:00 PM
Town of Yarmouth Log Cabin
196 Main Street
Yarmouth, Maine
Contact: Terry Stockwell at (207) 624-6553
New Hampshire Fish and Game
September 13, 2010; 7:00 PM
Urban Forestry Center
45 Elwyn Road
Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Contact: Doug Grout at (603) 868-1095
Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries
August 16, 2010; 6:00 PM
Holiday Inn
55 Ariadne Road
Dedham, Massachusetts
Contact: Jared Silva at (617) 626-1534
Rhode Island Division of Fish and Wildlife
August 17, 2010; 6:00 PM
URI, Narragansett Bay Campus, Corless Auditorium
215 South Ferry Road
Narragansett, Rhode Island
Contact: Mark Gibson at (401) 423-1935
Connecticut Dept. of Environmental Protection
July 13, 2010; 7:00 PM
Fayerweather Yacht Club
51 Brewster Street
Bridgeport, Connecticut
Contact: David Simpson at (860) 434-6043
July 14, 2010; 7:00 PM
Marine Headquarters
333 Ferry Road
Old Lyme, Connecticut
Contact: David Simpson at (860) 434-6043
New York Dept. of Environmental Conservation
July 21, 2010; 7:00 PM
Marine Resources Headquarters
205 North Belle Mead Road, Suite 1
East Setauket, New York
Contact: Steve Heins at (631) 444-0436
New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife
July 22; 7:00 PM
Toms River Township Clerk’s Office
L. Manuel Hirshblond Room
33 Washington Street
Toms River, New Jersey
Contact: Brandon Muffley at (609) 748-2020
Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission
July 20, 2010
Location to be determined
Contact: Leroy Young at (814) 359-5177
Delaware Dept. of Natural Resources and
Environmental Control
June 16, 2010; 7:30 PM
Richardson and Robbins Building Auditorium
89 Kings Highway
Dover, Delaware
Contact: Craig Shirey at (302) 739-9914
Maryland Dept. of Natural Resources
June 17, 2010; 7:00 PM
Ocean Pines Library
11107 Cathell Road
Berlin, Maryland
Contact: Carrie Kennedy at (410) 260-8295
July 19, 2010; 7:00 PM
Tawes State Office Building, C1 Conf. Room
580 Taylor Avenue
Annapolis, Maryland
Contact: Carrie Kennedy at (410) 260-8295
Virginia Marine Resources Commission
June 28, 2010; 6:00 PM
2600 Washington Avenue, 4th Floor
Newport News, Virginia
Contact: Jack Travelstead at (757) 247-2247
North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries
June 29, 2010
Location to be determined
Contact: Michelle Duval at (252) 808-8011
July 7, 2010; 6:00 PM
NC Division of Marine Fisheries
Central District Office
5285 Highway 70 West
Morehead City, North Carolina~~~~~
Contact: Michelle Duval at (252) 808-8011
Fishermen and other interested groups are encouraged to provide input on the Draft Addendum, either by attending public hearings or providing written comments. The Draft Addendum can be obtained via the Commission’s website at www.asmfc.org under Breaking News or by contacting the Commission at (202) 289-6400. Public comment will be accepted until 5:00 PM (EST) on October 1, 2010 and should be forwarded to Nichola Meserve, FMP Coordinator, 1444 Eye Street, NW, Sixth Floor, Washington, DC 20005;
(202) 289-6051 (FAX) or at nmeserve@asmfc.org (Subject line: Striped Bass Addendum II). For more information, please contact Nichola Meserve, Fishery Management Plan Coordinator at (202) 289-6400 or nmeserve@asmfc.org.
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