HD 245- now called H796 - since it has been assigned to committte, a bill to make striped bass a game fish in Massachusetts was introduced to the MA legislature in January of 2009. Attached you will find a copy of the bill as well as a list of the objective Stripers
Forever hopes to achieve with this legislation.
Stripers Forever urges all of our Massachusetts members to to go http://www.mass.gov/legis/, find your represenative, and send them an e-mail today in your own words that asks them to support H796 to make striped bass a game fish in Massachusetts.
Stripers Forever has hired a top lobbying firm to help us pass this important conservation bill. We are currently scheduling meetings with legislators in different areas of the state. If you would like to become more involved with this process please contact us at stripers@whatifnet.com.
Attached you will also find the illustration for a presentation by MA Policy Coordinator Craig Caldwell that shows the following:
How small the commercial striped bass fishery is relative to other commercial fishing in MA.
How important striped bass are to the recreational fishery in MA.
The number of recreational participants compared to commercial ones.
The number of commercial permit holders, than those that claimed to have fished at all, that had any landings at all, and that had landings of any magnitude.
On side two we show - even though it is already more than two years old, and doesn't reflect the true current situation - the decline in the spawning stock biomass of large stripers, and the increase in fishing mortality levels as measured by the Atlantic States Marine Fishery Commission.
Please do not hesitate to e-mail us at stripers@whatifnet.com with any questions that you might have.
