The new addendum to ASMFC’s Striped Bass Interstate Fishery Management Plan requires the states to reduce exploitation of mature (age 8 and up) striped bass by 14% each of the next two years. Those states which voluntarily implemented more conservative measures may be given credit towards this required reduction. Based on recent calculations, the DEC contends that New York’s one fish recreational creel limit on striped bass by itself exceeds the required 14% reduction. If the ASMFC doesn’t agree, New York’s striped bass season closure could be shaved at either end for an additional few percentage points of credit. The ASFMC striped bass technical committee will meet shortly to discuss awarding credit towards the required reductions. The neighboring states may not be happy if New York is awarded full credit. Mr. Wise thanked Kim McKown of DEC for doing the analysis. If New York must adjust its recreational fishing season to capture enough reduced fishing mortality on striped bass, the Council will discuss the relative impacts of specific alternative season adjustments at its 21 March 2000 meeting. Any adjustment of the commercial harvest of striped bass would be accomplished through changes to the annual harvest quota, not the timing or duration of the commercial season.

Councilor Knobel expressed satisfaction that the state would allow fishing at the permitted level, but asked whether DEC agreed that more bass could and should be caught to limit predation by stripers on other species? Mr. Colvin answered that no one was now arguing that the catch should be expanded. The stock was rebuilding, but there was strong scientific concern that mortality of older fish was still too high. New York members of ASMFC’s Striped Bass Board wanted a longer-term approach and did not support the 14% fishing mortality reduction, but twere outvoted. Mr. Colvin will send the Council the latest striped bass stock assessment. The biomass growth curve had been steadily increasing over the past 10 years, but this year it had flattened. Councilor Schwab added that ASMFC’s Striped Bass Advisory Panel had been asking for management which would accelerate the development of a quality fishery, i.e., a greater proportion of large fish.