Reallocation for Conservation
I havent seen it posted here so I thought I would share what the MSSA is doing in the name of conservation. To me it is a big deal and an approach that could prove to be very successful. As a member of the MSSA, I am very excited about the iniative of "reallocation for conservation" that the organization is taking to preserve the fishery for the future. I certainly hope and believe this cause will be fully supported by all fishermen. Here is a copy of the MSSA letter sent to DNR.
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One of the many reasons I joined MSSA. Someone there is using their brain.:)
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Ho....hum.
Let's see if I read this right. We (read rec angler) catch 57.5 percent of the Stripped Bass caught in the bay. We don't want the amount we catch reduced, but, you can take the quota from the commercial user group and hold that in reserve in case one year we catch over what we are supposed too, and use that quota to appease the ASMFC. A major problem will arise. ASMFC will take Maryland's commercial quota and redistribute it to the states that have commercial fishing. To do other wise major federal law would have to be changed. Maryland doesn't have that much clout in Congress. And I'm wondering if the majority of members of the MSSA who agree with the letter, think it will mean more allocation for rec anglers. |
Reds, our commercial harvest is out of line with other states in the ASMFC. Yet, our recreational seasons continue to come underfire. This reallocation may even stand to benefit some watermen through enabling them to make more per fish harvested as currently the gold resource is being sold a copper prices.
Given how this reallocation is intended to be used and stated as protection in case of a larger take under current regulations, I doubt the ASMFC will redistribute to other areas along the coast. Hopefully, given the concerns over some stock indicies starting to arise at the ASMFC, I doubt such a move would be done anytime soon and could be used to push back at other states for other conservation moves to take place. Should stock numbers look good in a few years and Maryland remains at or below its target on the recreational side, then DNR may need to look at seasons and regulations for both commercial and recreational. |
I wish I had a "chrystal ball" that would explain what happened to the rockfish population. Either the stock is in good condition, and they aren't here; or the stock is in serious trouble.
Last Spring, all I heard was that the spawn was going to be late because of all the cold and snow. Then when the spawn didn't show up during the regular time (mid March-May); the theory was that they came in EARLY and spawned. The yoy index doesn't seem to support this. Now, for the fall run; the theory is that the water temps are not cold enough to have driven the stock down the coast and into the bay. They say the majority of the fish are still off the coast and headed this way. Even last winter, the stock didn't act normally. Reports I heard were that the stock remained out past the 3 mile limit and many boats had to resort to illegally chashing them offshore. I really don't know what has happened. Is the stock sound and they have changed their pattern? Or, is the stock in serious trouble, as the yoy might indicate? Does someone know how the fishing was all along the coast this year? Are the northern states having a banner year, or are their numbers depressed like ours? Dumbfounded, 5th (Marty) |
Marty - From what I have read, the fall fishing up off of Long Island was awesome; best in years. They were surprised how long the bait had stayed in the area, which held the fish there. I am afraid by the time the fish are ready to migrate up into our bay, it will be too cold and most of them will just continue down the coast to be slaughtered again this winter off Va. Just my .02:confused:....Don
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It's the same as it's been since the moratorium. The allocation is written in stone in Maryland's law at 42.5 percent of Maryland's quota. Don't doubt what ASMFC will do. One only has to look up the coast to New Jersey and see what they had to do with the commercial quota in order to keep from losing it. (New Jersey wanted to give it to the rec anglers) For those that don't know New Jersey has a commercial quota that is counted in the total commercial catch. BUT it's caught by recreational anglers. They had to make use of smoke and mirrors to keep from losing the commercial allocation. One last thing. Do your home work on Striped Bass prices. Maryland enjoys good off the boat prices until the other states flood the market with their catch. |
It's as simple as this, conservation is needed on all fronts. A little here and a little there will provide a sustainable resource for everyone.
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Marylands commercial harvest is out of line in the sense that it makes up nearly 1/3 of the entire commercial take in lbs. That doesnt include the potomac river numbers either!
Even good "off the boat prices" are still selling our gold resource at copper prices. A reduction in commercial allocation may even benefit some watermen through increasing the prices for their harvest. I am aware of what NJ did. They gave striped bass gamefish status and their recreational fishermen the commercial allocation through trophy tags to keep from losing it. I believe the MSSA is asking for commercial allocation to be given to rec side to cover seasons like 2009. I dont believe unused allocation would be redistributed to other states given the recent exceeding of the rec targets here in MD. Should the fish population look great in a few years and Maryland is hitting the targets, then Maryland may need to look at where unused allocation can be used to expand our fisheries as to not lose fish to redistribution. Until then, this reallocation is necessary to protect our recreational fishing and act as conservation initiative given the growing concerns at the ASMFC and within our own DNR. It certainly be interesting to see how DNR responds to this paragraph of the letter given their concerns over preseason C&R (not to confuse the subjects): Quote:
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Don't expect the DNR to take MSSA's side on this matter, they still have people working for them, who remember the last time. |
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