Riverkeeper proposes changes to support striped bass populations
December 10, 2024
Riverkeeper Team
The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) is currently considering updating the striped bass management plan. This is in response to the most recent assessment that found striper mortality is slightly higher than the target for recovery, while spawning stock is well below the recovery target.
In order to protect striped bass, Riverkeeper is advocating for (1) a “non-targeting seasonal closure,” which requires fishing trips target other fish species, effectively narrowing the window of opportunity to fish for striped bass in ocean waters; (2) reductions in harvest based on sector (e.g. a smaller reduction in commercial fishing, which has a much smaller impact on striper mortality compared to recreational fishing); and (3) a regional approach to seasonal closures where different states enact seasonal closures at different times of the year, which will help reduce striped bass mortality coastwide. Riverkeeper is deeply engaged in the other critical actions needed to support our fish, including improving water and habitat quality in the Hudson and its tributaries.
Read our full comments here.
ASMFC’s recommendations to support striped bass recovery, along with a recent Q&A session, can be viewed here.
Striped bass are an iconic migratory species in the Hudson River Estuary — a vital piece of the river’s food web as well as one of the most sought after fishes for anglers on the Atlantic Coast. ASMFC will meet on Monday, December 16 to discuss potential striped bass management changes in ocean waters (0-3 miles from shore), with potential decisions impacting the Hudson River to follow.
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The Hudson River watershed is home to a breathtaking diversity of life. Protecting and restoring our aquatic habitats is critical for their renewal and for a healthy future for all life in the watershed
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