Post by Patrick Paquette 848 on Nov 11, 2010 17:00:01 GMT -4
ASMFC Striped Bass Management Board Report
On Tuesday November 9 2010 I attended the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) Striped Bass Management Board meeting held in Charleston South Carolina. The Board was scheduled to take action (discuss and vote) on Draft Addendum II to Amendment 6 of the Atlantic Striped Bass Management Plan. Addendum II was scheduled for action because the mandatory public comment period that consists of both hearings and the opportunity for submission of correspondence had ended.
There were two main issues in the draft or proposed regulation. Issue number 1 was a proposal to increase the commercial quota of Striped Bass. There was a presentation by the Striped Bass Technical Committee (TC) which is the group of scientists that gather, analyze and advise the ASMFC regarding Striped Bass. There was also a presentation by the Striped Bass Advisory Panel (AP) which met in Rhode Island and voted against the increase but was split on the issue according to the community (recreational or commercial) that the individual members represented. It is important to note that there are openings on the Striped Bass AP including two seats from MA.
The ASMFC discussion boiled down to a few key opinions. Proponents of the increase felt that over many years as the recreational catch has increased dramatically the commercial catch has not and this inequity should be corrected. Supporters also acknowledge there is likely to be some bad news about the stock coming in the near future but felt that the current science clearly allows for an increase in catch that will not adversely effect the stock. By far the loudest commissioner that actually fought very hard for the increase were Commissioners Pat Augustine of NY and Dr. Michelle Duval of NC.
Opponents referred to overwhelming pubic opinion against the proposed increase and took turns citing well known concerns about poaching, myobacteriosis, truncating range, and poor young of year index data that are all currently being studied and in the near future are likely to result in a need for an overall mortality reduction or cutback.
There was much discussion about fisheries managers not being representatives and not having to follow the popular opinion but rather being managers and that following science is their charge. Of course, as is always the case these days, there was conflicting science and a great need for more science, thus following science is not quite as clear as one might hope or expect.
There were a series of motions and votes that attempted to set a commercial increase at various percentages or contained language to set in stone that if bad news comes in the future the commercial quota will be reduced. Each and every one of these motions resulted in the exact same vote or 5-10-0 and the votes were cast as follows: ME-no NH-no MA-no RI-yes CT-no NY-yes NJ-no DE-yes MD-no PA-no VA-yes NC-yes Potomac Region Fisheries Council-yes District of Columbia-absent National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)-no US Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS)-no
The vote to maintain status quo had some voters change their votes (this is usually the case) and passed 11-1-1. To be accurate in reporting, the vote to maintain status quo went as follows: ME-yes NH-yes MA-yes RI-no CT-yes NY-no NJ-yes DE-no MD-yes PA-yes VA-yes NC-yes Potomac Region Fisheries Council-abstain District of Columbia-absent National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)-yes US Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS)-yes
I feel the need to report that there were two state whose votes caught me by surprise. Maryland broke from the mid Atlantic block of states voting for the increase and voted against the increase was one of these and the other is Rhode Island whose support for the increase in commercial quota continues to baffle me.
Issue number two which was a proposal by the Striped Bass Technical Committee to make an adjustment to the way certain data is analyzed and makes the data more standard passed unanimously.
Capt. Patrick Paquette
Recreational Fishing Community Advocate
Massachusetts Striped Bass Association; Gov't Affairs Officer
MA Beach Buggy Association; Vice President Elect
Recreational Fishing Alliance; Acting MA State Chair
BasicPatrick@aol.com
On Tuesday November 9 2010 I attended the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) Striped Bass Management Board meeting held in Charleston South Carolina. The Board was scheduled to take action (discuss and vote) on Draft Addendum II to Amendment 6 of the Atlantic Striped Bass Management Plan. Addendum II was scheduled for action because the mandatory public comment period that consists of both hearings and the opportunity for submission of correspondence had ended.
There were two main issues in the draft or proposed regulation. Issue number 1 was a proposal to increase the commercial quota of Striped Bass. There was a presentation by the Striped Bass Technical Committee (TC) which is the group of scientists that gather, analyze and advise the ASMFC regarding Striped Bass. There was also a presentation by the Striped Bass Advisory Panel (AP) which met in Rhode Island and voted against the increase but was split on the issue according to the community (recreational or commercial) that the individual members represented. It is important to note that there are openings on the Striped Bass AP including two seats from MA.
The ASMFC discussion boiled down to a few key opinions. Proponents of the increase felt that over many years as the recreational catch has increased dramatically the commercial catch has not and this inequity should be corrected. Supporters also acknowledge there is likely to be some bad news about the stock coming in the near future but felt that the current science clearly allows for an increase in catch that will not adversely effect the stock. By far the loudest commissioner that actually fought very hard for the increase were Commissioners Pat Augustine of NY and Dr. Michelle Duval of NC.
Opponents referred to overwhelming pubic opinion against the proposed increase and took turns citing well known concerns about poaching, myobacteriosis, truncating range, and poor young of year index data that are all currently being studied and in the near future are likely to result in a need for an overall mortality reduction or cutback.
There was much discussion about fisheries managers not being representatives and not having to follow the popular opinion but rather being managers and that following science is their charge. Of course, as is always the case these days, there was conflicting science and a great need for more science, thus following science is not quite as clear as one might hope or expect.
There were a series of motions and votes that attempted to set a commercial increase at various percentages or contained language to set in stone that if bad news comes in the future the commercial quota will be reduced. Each and every one of these motions resulted in the exact same vote or 5-10-0 and the votes were cast as follows: ME-no NH-no MA-no RI-yes CT-no NY-yes NJ-no DE-yes MD-no PA-no VA-yes NC-yes Potomac Region Fisheries Council-yes District of Columbia-absent National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)-no US Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS)-no
The vote to maintain status quo had some voters change their votes (this is usually the case) and passed 11-1-1. To be accurate in reporting, the vote to maintain status quo went as follows: ME-yes NH-yes MA-yes RI-no CT-yes NY-no NJ-yes DE-no MD-yes PA-yes VA-yes NC-yes Potomac Region Fisheries Council-abstain District of Columbia-absent National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)-yes US Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS)-yes
I feel the need to report that there were two state whose votes caught me by surprise. Maryland broke from the mid Atlantic block of states voting for the increase and voted against the increase was one of these and the other is Rhode Island whose support for the increase in commercial quota continues to baffle me.
Issue number two which was a proposal by the Striped Bass Technical Committee to make an adjustment to the way certain data is analyzed and makes the data more standard passed unanimously.
Capt. Patrick Paquette
Recreational Fishing Community Advocate
Massachusetts Striped Bass Association; Gov't Affairs Officer
MA Beach Buggy Association; Vice President Elect
Recreational Fishing Alliance; Acting MA State Chair
BasicPatrick@aol.com