Public Hearing Notice

Public Hearing Notice  ASMFC Public Hearing on Striped Bass Draft Addendum VI - Woburn

Wednesday, October 2, 2019
6 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Address

15 Middlesex Canal Park, Woburn, MA 01801

Contact   for ASMFC Public Hearing on Striped Bass Draft Addendum VI - Woburn

Division of Marine Fisheries

Fax

(617) 626-1509

Overview   of ASMFC Public Hearing on Striped Bass Draft Addendum VI - Woburn

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) is seeking public comment on Draft Addendum VI to Amendment 6 of the Interstate Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Atlantic Striped Bass. A full schedule of public hearings is available at www.asmfc.org.

Draft Addendum VI was initiated in response to the 2018 Benchmark Stock Assessment, which indicates the resource is overfished and experiencing overfishing. The Draft Addendum explores a range of management alternatives designed to end overfishing and reduce fishing mortality to the target level in 2020.

The Draft Addendum proposes management options for both commercial and recreational sectors in the ocean and in Chesapeake Bay in order to reduce total fishery removals by 18% relative to 2017 levels. The proposed measures include reduced quotas for commercial fisheries, and changes in bag limits, minimum sizes, and slot size limits for the recreational sector. Since catch and release practices represent a significant component of overall fishing mortality, the Draft Addendum also explores the mandatory use of circle hooks when fishing with bait to reduce release mortality in recreational striped bass fisheries.

Draft Addendum VI is available via the Commission’s website at www.asmfc.org/about-us/public-input. Fishermen and other stakeholders are encouraged to provide input on Draft Addendum VI either by attending a state public hearing or providing written comment. Public comment will be accepted until 5 PM (EST) on October 7, 2019 and should be sent to Max Appelman, Fishery Management Plan Coordinator, 1050 N. Highland St, Suite A-N, Arlington, VA 22201; 703.842.0741 (FAX) or at comments@asmfc.org (Subject line: Striped Bass Draft Addendum VI).

If your organization is planning to release an action alert related to the Draft Addendum, please contact Max Appelman at mappelman@asmfc.org prior to its release. The Board will meet at the Commission’s Annual Meeting in October to review public comment and consider final approval of the Addendum.

Additional Resources   for ASMFC Public Hearing on Striped Bass Draft Addendum VI - Woburn

Contact   for ASMFC Public Hearing on Striped Bass Draft Addendum VI - Woburn

Help Us Improve Mass.gov  with your feedback

Please do not include personal or contact information.
Feedback