Report: MA gamefish bill meeting

[DarkSkies]

Here's the one from the Gloucester times:

http://www.gloucestertimes.com/punews/local_story_019230624.html?keyword=topstory


Published: January 20, 2010 05:52 am
13

Commercial fishing for striped bass under fire Group asks lawmakers to end commercial landings.
By Richard Gaines
Staff Writer


A recreational fishing organization is pressing the Massachusetts Legislature to end commercial fishing for striped bass — the great inshore migratory prize whose stocks have yo-yoed over time, and now show signs of declining again.

Stripers Forever, a Maine-based group and the author of the bill to make stripers strictly a game fish, couches the argument in economic as well as conservation terms.

"Fundamentally," said Jeffrey Krasner, spokesman for Stripers Forever, "our argument is economic. What we're saying is that striped bass are worth a lot more as a game fish than as a commercial fishery."

The organization has also highlighted data showing a precipitous decline in recreational catches of stripers — harvested and released — from the National Marine Fishery Service.

According to NMFS, the catch along the Atlantic coast after peaking at 28.6 million fish in 2006 declined each of the next three years, to 19.1 million fish in 2007, 14 million a year later and 6.9 million last year.

The recreational striper catch in Massachusetts followed the same pattern: from 9 million in 2006, to 6.1 million, then 4 million and finally 2.6 million last year.

According to NMFS data, the 2009 catch in Massachusetts was lower than any dating to 1995, when the striper was rebounding from near wipeout status brought about by the industrial pollution of the great estuaries where the bass spawned, the Hudson, Delaware and Chesapeake Rivers, and indiscriminate fishing.

Striper catches bottomed out in the 1980s, then the bass was put under the protection of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, which negotiated size minimums. Meanwhile, beginning in the 1970s, states and the federal government began to trace and prosecute polluters.

At its hearing on the bill last Thursday, opponents far outnumbered proponents before the Legislature's Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture. The committee has not scheduled an executive session to vote on the bill which was filed for Stripers Forever by Rep. Matthew C. Patrick, D-Falmouth.

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission considers the declining catch in recent years a return to more normal levels after optimal growth, and continues to believe stripers are "one of the healthier (stocks) along the Atlantic coast," said Nichola Meserve, the striper coordinator for the commission.

Gloucester's striped bass guru, Al Williams, who fishes recreationally and commercially, holds a similar view.
"My personal opinion is they are still in pretty good shape," said Williams. "We're fishing below the peak, but the peak ... four or five years ago ... was pretty phenomenal."

Williams said he believes the stocks have not declined so much as they have been drawn into deeper waters away from the fishermen following bait fish.

Migratory patterns have changed," said Williams "I've gotten similar observations from Montauk (Long Island, N.Y.) and Connecticut."

Chuck Cassella, a recreational charter boat captain, said he opposed the ban on commercial fishing for stripers.
"Fisheries shouldn't be managed through legislation," said Cassella, who charters out of Winthrop. "There is a dynamic aspect to reacting to stocks on a yearly basis. We have a regulatory process in place that responds to stocks."

The commercial catch in Massachusetts is limited to 1 million pounds, and is typically surpassed slightly.
The commercial season is in mid-season, until the catch limit is reached, and then closed.

Stripers typically return to Cape Ann waters around May 1 and the last laggard doesn't leave until the end of October. Some of the stock also stays over in the Essex River and other estuaries.

Stripers also winter in the south-facing rivers along Southern New England, but most of the stripers return to their spawning waters or aggregate into massive schools that live partially dormant lives off the Middle Atlantic Coast.

[albiealert]

Here's the one from the Gloucester times:

http://www.gloucestertimes.com/punews/local_story_019230624.html?keyword=topstory


Published: January 20, 2010 05:52 am
13

Commercial fishing for striped bass under fire Group asks lawmakers to end commercial landings.
By Richard Gaines
Staff Writer


A recreational fishing organization is pressing the Massachusetts Legislature to end commercial fishing for striped bass — the great inshore migratory prize whose stocks have yo-yoed over time, and now show signs of declining again.

The organization has also highlighted data showing a precipitous decline in recreational catches of stripers — harvested and released — from the National Marine Fishery Service.

According to NMFS, the catch along the Atlantic coast after peaking at 28.6 million fish in 2006 declined each of the next three years, to 19.1 million fish in 2007, 14 million a year later and 6.9 million last year.

The recreational striper catch in Massachusetts followed the same pattern: from 9 million in 2006, to 6.1 million, then 4 million and finally 2.6 million last year.

According to NMFS data, the 2009 catch in Massachusetts was lower than any dating to 1995, when the striper was rebounding from near wipeout status brought about by the industrial pollution of the great estuaries where the bass spawned, the Hudson, Delaware and Chesapeake Rivers, and indiscriminate fishing.

I may not be a rocket scientist, but if you do simple math the catches have declined from 66-75% in the last 3 years, around 66% for Mass, 75% coastwide. I wish someone would explain how they figure the accuracy of these numbers. I don't understand that with figures like that they would be able to say it is still a sustainable fishery. Hocus pocus.

[jonthepain]

Amazing report, Rich. It'll take me time to digest it all, but I'm still for gamefish status and slot limits.

Thanks for all your time and effort.

And objectivity.

[DarkSkies]

Here's some e-mail resources from StripersForever if anyone wants to contact the MA legislators. There's also a suggested e-mail template for people to send out:

Mass state directory: http://www.mass.gov/legis/

Representative Matt Patrick Rep.MatthewPatrick@hou.state.ma.us,

Stripers Forever membership - the MA Joint Committee on Natural Resources and the Environment will soon take action on H796 the striped bass game fish bill. Last month there was a committee hearing that was very lightly attended by legislators, so they are still very much open to public input. Let's let them know what we think!

We are asking you at this important time to contact or recontact every member of the Committee as well as your own legislator. Remember, a letter sent by postal mail is best, but an e-mail is far better than no comment at all. Phone calls to their offices are also great.

Here is a sample letter that you can send. Writing something in your own words, though, is even better.

Dear Representative or Senator.

I urge you to vote for H796 a bill that would designate striped bass as a game fish in Massachusetts state waters. Here is why:

Professional studies show that recreational fishing for striped bass provides many times more economic activity and jobs than does the commercial fishery.
Striped bass, after a population collapse in the 1980s, are again in trouble. The commercial fishery wrongly focuses on the prime breeding age female fish.
Recreational striped bass fishing has made Cape Cod and the Islands a prime destination for traveling fishermen. Many guides are employed by this fishery.
Massachusetts would join Maine, NH, and CT as New England states that have protected striped bass from commercial exploitation.
Striped bass are an important recreation for me personally, and the quality of that fishing is deteriorating.

• Striped bass migrate to Massachusetts from Chesapeake Bay, and are known to be heavily contaminated with mercury, PCBs, and a flesh-eating disease called mycobacteriosis. The Environmental Defense Fund says that no one should consume these fish. People buying these fish assume that the government has tested them and they are safe. This is not true.

• Fishing for striped bass is an important recreation for me and the quality of it is slipping away rapidly. I urge you to vote for H796 and make striped bass a game fish today.

Sincerely;

For additional information this link will take you to a letter posted on the SF website that Representative Matt Patrick recently sent to members of the Massachusetts legislature commenting on the committee hearing and the importance of passing H796. You may want to read it before finalizing your comments to legislators

[DarkSkies]

Sent in by Finchaser, and StripersForever

Stripers Forever members - Henri Rauschenbach, our lobbyist who works with us to advance the Massachusetts striped bass game fish. bill, regularly holds fundraisers for some members of the legislature. Supporting legislators that are, or could be, helpful in furthering our quest for striped bass game fish in Massachusett is important. If you choose to send any financial contribution (s), be sure to include a note asking the legislator to support H796, the striped bass conservation bill. Any contributions should be made out to the campaign of the individual person; i.e.: Committee to Elect Robert DeLeo.

Here is a schedule of upcoming fundraising events that Henri is holding in Boston for various legislators:

2010 FUNDRAISING SCHEDULE

Feb. 26 Friday Rep. Robert DeLeo, Speaker of the House Union Club 8:30 - 9:30AM

Mar 2 Tuesday Senator Ben Downing, Senate Chairman of the Joint Committee on Revenue Parker House 8:30 - 9:30AM

Mar 23 Tuesday Senator Therese Murray Senate President Union Club 8:30 - 9:30AM

April 13 Tuesday Senator Anthony Petruccelli Co-Chairman of theJoint Committee on the Environment and Natural Resources Parker House 8:30 -9:30AM

If you want to attend any of these fundraisers, please touch base with Henri for exact event locations, directions, how to make your check out etc.

If you can't attend, but wish to contribute, please send your check to: Henri Rauschenbach, P.O.Box 1064, Brewster, MA 02631 (made payable as above)

If you have questions about the events feel free to contact Henri directly at::

henri@smithandrauschenbach.com or phone him at 774-994-0601

[plugcrazy]

I don't make much during these hard times but I'll put a check in the mail. Thanks for posting it Dark and bringing it to our attention again.

[DarkSkies]

This is the latest development. Sent in by Finchaser, thanks!



Sent: Wednesday, March 10, 2010 7:30 AM
Subject: [Stripers_FED] H796

Stripers Forever members - the Massachusetts game fish bill H796 has been referred for further study by the Natural Resource committee. This is a maneuver designed to keep a bill from getting to the floor to be debated by the full legislature. In Massachusetts, as in many coastal states, the committee that oversees natural resources is stacked with coastal legislators who represent commercial fishing communities. Those who sell their catch of striped bass are very motivated to continue the practice, and they made a strong showing at the committee hearing.

What does this mean for the future of striped bass game fish in the Commonwealth? In the longer run it doesn't mean anything, because the issue is anything but static. But for now, it means that this bill will probably not come out of committee this year. The bill could be pulled out of study at any time if it became obvious to legislators that striped bass were really in dire straits, and we will be sure to introduce any evidence that further indicates that. Part of the committee's skepticism towards H796 is the reliance on the Department of Marine Fisheries assurances that striped bass are in great shape, even though the recreational catch has been in serious decline for the last four seasons.

However, there are other ways to accomplish the goal of game fish designation for striped bass in Massachusetts. The social and economic impacts of recreational fishing for striped bass are far reaching. Showing key legislators that significant jobs, tourism, and tax revenues will be lost if striped bass fishing continues to decline could result in the bill being included in a more comprehensive piece of financial legislation. Educating lawmakers on the health issues related to consuming wild stripers can also heavily influence their vote. These and other ways to pass striped bass game fish legislation in Massachusetts are being worked on by Stripers Forever's Massachusetts board and lobbyists.

Without a real and acknowledged crisis it is difficult to break the status quo. In the last year we have educated many Massachusetts legislators on the importance of the recreational fishing, tourism fishing and guiding industry for striped bass. We made a lot of friends who are committed to giving striped bass the same game fish designation in this state as three other New England states. The decision to send H796 to study rather than put it out onto the floor at this time may actually be a good thing, as it gives us additional time to build our case with more legislators. This is but a step along the way, as opposed to the end of the path, and our work will continue. Everyone in Massachusetts should be proud of Representative Matt Patrick for having the foresight to see striped bass fishing for what it could be, and for not being afraid to champion it. The striped bass owe Matt a great deal for the start he has given to legislation that will eventually take the price off their head as they migrate through the waters of the Commonwealth.

Here is a link to website to the testimony that **** Russell, author of Striper Wars, gave to the Natural Resource Committee