Change to Regulations for Striped Bass Fishing in the Block Island Transit Zone

[Moo5e]

Hello,

 

The NOAA is considering a rule that would allow recreational striped bass fishing in the Block Island Transit Zone, a part of the EEZ. Please visit the link below and hit "comment now!" and provide your opinion. There is also a link to a great blog post on this subject on the website of an online journal for surf fisherman which may help you if you're not sure what to say.

 

Post your submitted comment to the NOAA below and I will enter you into a raffle for some primo d-rings. Others may volunteer prizes too.

 

Thanks for reading.

 

https://www.regulations.gov/docket?D=NOAA-NMFS-2018-0106

 

My comments for reference:

 

Hello,

 

I strongly oppose this rule and ask that the NOAA does not open the Block Island Transit Zone to Striped Bass Fishing.

 

The Block Island Transit Zone is an important refuge for the Striped bass, especially breeding aged females which sometimes spend the entire summer there. The current total abundance of Striped Bass biomass is closer to being over-fished than meeting threshold and ASMFC management is often slow to recognize, or chooses to allow over-fishing to occur. This hardly seems to be the right time to open new fishing areas that are re productively important to the population.

 

The average angler will not see any benefit if this bill is approved, more likely they will see negative effects. Shore and inshore fisherman will likely only see a decline in fish due to offshore harvest of the breeding stock. While the for-hire "party-boat" fleet may see some benefit, it will be small and temporary; only allowing them to fish themselves out of business. Especially as boats descend on the transit zone from out of state. 

 

If approved, not much time will pass before other states cry foul and demand that the EEZ in their states be opened for fishing too. This would be especially harmful in the over-winter grounds off North Carolina and Virginia and the summer grounds off Cape Cod. How long until commercial striped bass fisherman (a far less economically important but more impactful contingent than recreational striped bass fisherman) also demand access to the EEZ? 

 

As a conservation minded fisherman, I urge you to not approve the proposed rule and keep the Block Island Transit Zone closed to striped bass fishing. There are enough areas to fish for striped bass around the Block Island Transit Zone which are more accessible to the average fisherman and have less of an impact on the population.

 

Approval of this rule will set a dangerous and damaging precedent. Please, do not approve this rule!

 

Edited October 13 by Moo5e

[jesgord]

Here is mine from yesterday:

[Moo5e]

8 mins ago, jesgord said:

Here is mine from yesterday:

Thanks!

[runnsfromcops]

[Moo5e]

6 hours ago, runnsfromcops said:

Thanks for the support!

[Nick F]

Comment posted, hoping to win one of those world famous d-rings of yours!  @Moo5e

[Cpalms]

Commented.  Takes less than an minute.  Could not be any easier.

 

They have only received 246 comments so far.  That's sad.

[Moo5e]

3 hours ago, Nick F said:

Comment posted, hoping to win one of those world famous d-rings of yours!  @Moo5e

Thanks Nick!

[Moo5e]

1 hour ago, Cpalms said:

Commented.  Takes less than an minute.  Could not be any easier.

 

They have only received 246 comments so far.  That's sad.

Thanks Cpalms! It's very easy, hoping to see 1000 by the time I'm done. 

 

Consider writing your state rep and senators a quick note, as well as your asmfc rep.

[TimS]

1 hour ago, Cpalms said:

Commented.  Takes less than an minute.  Could not be any easier.

 

They have only received 246 comments so far.  That's sad.

247

 

Please do not open any portion of the EEZ to any type of striped bass fishing as it is just the beginning of a renewed push to open the entire EEZ to striped bass fishing. The striped bass population is under incredible fishing pressure throughout the entire coast including every bay, river and tributary. The EEZ is their only refuge from constant recreational and commercial fishing pressure. The striped bass population is in trouble and has been in decline for most of the past decade. Opening any portion of the EEZ at a time when we should be finding ways to protect the population would seem irresponsible and short sighted. Here's what the folks at the ASMFC (striped bass management is their responsibility) had to say in 2014 in regards to opening the EEZ even to just catch and release fishing - and things have only gotten worse for the striped bass since then:

"Opening any fishery in the EEZ would not decrease fishing mortality at a time when current F estimates are above its target level
• Tagging data indicate larger females tend to aggregate in the EEZ
• It is impossible for the TC to predict whether opening the EEZ will result in a shift or an increase in fishing effort, but any fishing that occurs in the EEZ will result in a source of mortality that is currently minimized by the prohibition"

Their entire opinion on even just allowed catch and release fishing in the EEZ can be found here: 
http://www.asmfc.org/files/Meetings/Spring2014/AtlStripedBassBoardPresentations_May2014.pdf

I've also attached the above PDF to this comment

Please read through at least their summaries - the ASMFC considered the suggestion back in 2014 to open the EEZ to just catch and release fishing for striped bass and have soundly rejected it. They supported that rejection with peer reviewed science and data. Please take their opinion into consideration and do not allow any portion of the EEZ to be opened to striped bass fishing. Thank you.

[splions]

248

[eagle73]

Tim - thank you for keeping us informed.  

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[Moo5e]

Thank you @TimS, @splions, and @eagle73

 

Great factually and scientifically backed post Tim!

[Googan Sharpie]

I sent mine last week.  

[Fish Monkey]

Done