Thanks for the welcome. The idea for the pledge came out of increasing frustration with the declining numbers of striped bass and the ongoing delays with the ASMFC in getting their act together. The tipping point came when I saw that they put off any action until 2015. Something needed to be done now and the pledge idea which is only an interim step took off from there. Lot's of great ideas from other people, people offering to help, make donations, contribute products...

So we have a nice following but the true test will be when it's time to either write letters, show up at meetings, and make phone calls. The commercial sector is strongly aligned while the recreational sector is splintered. Some promoting a narrow solution, others promoting overall conservation, and then another portion promoting the rights of the party boats and fishing manufacturers.

The next big meeting will be in May with the ASMFC supposedly coming back with their recommendations followed by a period of public comment and hopefully a final decision in October. We shall see...

Ross