Interstate Fisheries Management

Striped bass, Morone saxatilis, have formed the basis of one of the most important fisheries on the Atlantic coast for centuries. Early records recount their abundance as being so great at one time they were used to fertilize fields. However, overfishing and poor environmental conditions lead to the collapse of the fishery in the 1980s. Through the hardship and dedication of both commercial and recreational fishermen, the stock was rebuilt and today’s watermen again harvest striped bass in great number. Recreational harvest has grown steadily since the reopening of many state fisheries in 1990, peaking above 2.7 million fish in 2006. Under the current management program, commercial harvest has averaged nearly 1 million fish annually. Based on the results of the 2011 stock assessment update, Atlantic coast striped bass are not overfished and overfishing is not occurring. The female spawning stock biomass was estimated at 50,548 metric tons in 2010, which is above the spawning stock biomass target and threshold levels. Estimates of recruitment in 2010 increased from 2009 and were slightly higher than the recent (2005-2010) average. However the estimate was still below the post recovery time period (1995-2010) average. While biomass estimates have remained relatively stable due to the growth and maturation of the 2003 year class and the accumulation of spawning biomass from year classes prior to 1996, stock abundance has declined since 2004 from 67.5 million fish to a low of 42.3 million fish in 2010. The decline, as reflected by landings, is more prevalent in areas largely dependent on the Chesapeake Bay stock than in areas dominated by the Hudson River stock. The fishing mortality rate in 2010 on age 8-11 fish was F=0.23, which is well below the fishing mortality threshold and target levels of 0.34 and 0.30, respectively. The Commission has managed striped bass since 1981. Amendment 6 to the Fishery Management Plan provides the current guidance to the states from Maine through North Carolina. The management program includes target and threshold biological reference points (spawning stock biomass and fishing mortality), and sets regulations aimed at achieving the targets. Required regulatory measures include recreational and commercial minimum size limits, recreational creel limits, and commercial quotas. States can implement alternative management measures that are deemed to be conservationally equivalent to the preferred measures in Amendment 6. <species profile> <stock status> <commercial and recreational landings> <state regulations> <habitat fact sheet> <law enforcement factsheet>

Contacts Kate Taylor, FMP Coordinator Management Board Chair, Tom O'Connell Technical Committee Chair, Wilson Laney Advisory Panel Chair, Kelly Place		Management Plans & Other Reports Amendment 6 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Striped Bass (February 2003) Addendum II: Definition of Recruitment Failure (November 2010) Addendum I (November 2007) Proceedings of the Atlantic Striped Bass Workshop and Roundtable Discussion (February 1998) * Previous plans and addenda can be found at Fishery Management Reports.
Pendings Actions for Public Input Draft Addendum II to Amendment 6 to the Atlantic Striped Bass Fishery Management Plan (public comment accepted until 5PM (EST) on July 13, 2012; click here to submit public comment)		Reports FMP Reviews 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2000 Juvenile Abundance Indices 2009 Stock Assessment Reports 2011 2009 2008 - Atlantic Striped Bass Assessment Summary Report, Atlantic Striped Bass Assessment Report, Atlantic Striped Bass Assessment Report Appendices 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 Enforcement of Striped Bass in the Chesapeake Bay and Recommendations to the ASMFC Atlantic Coast Diadromous Fish Habitat: A Review of Utilization, Threats, Recommendations for Conservation, and Research Needs (January 2009)
Upcoming Meetings 6/5 (7 PM): ASMFC Public Hearing on Draft Addendum III to Amendment 6 to the Intersatte Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Striped Bass, Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, Hanover High School, 287 Cedar Street, Hanover, Massachusetts. Contact Nichola Meserve for more information. 6/5 (6 PM): ASMFC Public Hearing on Draft Addendum III to Amendment 6 to the Intersatte Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Striped Bass, Maryland Dept. of Natural Resources Fisheries Service, 580 Taylor Avenue, Annapolis, Maryland. Contact Mike Luisi for more information. 6/6 (6 PM): ASMFC Public Hearing on Draft Addendum III to Amendment 6 to the Intersatte Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Striped Bass, Rhode Island Division of Fish and Wildlife, URI Narragansett Bay Campus, Corless Auditorium, South Ferry Road, Narragansett, Rhode Island. Contact Nicole Travisono for more information. 6/7 (7 PM): ASMFC Public Hearing on Draft Addendum III to Amendment 6 to the Intersatte Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Striped Bass, Delaware Dept. of Natural Resources & Environmental Control, DNREC Auditorium, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, Delaware. Contact John Clark for more information. 6/18 (6 PM): ASMFC Public Hearing on Draft Addendum III to Amendment 6 to the Intersatte Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Striped Bass, Virginia Marine Resources Commission, 2600 Washington Avenue, Fourth Floor Conference Room, Newport News, Virginia. Contact Rob O’Reilly for more information. 6/19 (6 PM): ASMFC Public Hearing on Draft Addendum III to Amendment 6 to the Intersatte Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Striped Bass, North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries, Dare County Administrative Building, Commissioners Meeting Room, 954 Marshall C. Collins Drive, Manteo, North Carolina. Contact Kathy Rawls for more information. 6/21 (7 PM): ASMFC Public Hearing on Draft Addendum III to Amendment 6 to the Intersatte Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Striped Bass, New York Dept. of Environmental Conservation, Bureau of Marine Resources, 205 N Belle Mead Road, Suite 1, East Setauket, New York. Contact James Gilmore for more information.		Meeting & Minutes Summaries

Press Releases ASMFC Atlantic Striped Bass Board Approves Draft Addendum III for Public Comment (May 2, 2012) ASMFC Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board Initiates Addendum to Address Illegal Striped Bass Harvest (February 9, 2012) Atlantic Striped Bass Assessment Update finds Resource Not Overfished and Overfishing Not Occurring (November 10, 2011) ASMFC Atlantic Striped Bass Board Initiates Addendum to Reduce Fishing Mortality (March 24, 2011) ASMFC Striped Bass Board Approves Addendum II (November 10, 2010) States Schedule Hearings on Striped Bass Draft Addendum II: Public Comment Accepted Until October 1 (June 3, 2010) ASMFC Striped Bass Board Approves Draft Addendum II for Public Comment (May 6, 2010) Atlantic Striped Bass Assessment Update Finds Resource Not Overfished and Overfishing Not Occurring (November 4, 2009) States Schedule Public Hearings on Striped Bass Draft Addendum II (September 11, 2009) ASMFC Striped Bass Board Approves Draft Addendum II for Public Comment (August 20, 2009) Updated Biological Reference points for Atlantic Striped Bass Confirm Previously Released Stock Status (August 20, 2008) Striped Bass Stock Assessment Indicates Healthy Stock (February 6, 2008) ASMFC Striped Bass Board Approves Addendum I: Addendum Establishes Bycatch Data Collection Program (November 1, 2007) ASMFC Striped Bass Board Approves RI and MD Proposals (August 16, 2007) States Schedule Hearings on Striped Bass Draft Addendum I (September 5, 2006) Striped Bass Board Approves Draft Addendum I for Public Comment: Addendum Proposes Bycatch Data Collection Program (August 17, 2006) Striped Bass Stock Assessment Indicates Healthy Stock: Total Abundance, Female Spawning Stock Biomass and Recruitment Remain High (October 31, 2005) ASMFC Forwards New Jersey Noncompliance Findings to Secretaries of Commerce and the Interior for Action (August 19, 2004)