Public Comment Tonight Draft Amendment 7 to the Atlantic Striped Bass Fishery Management Plan

Dover (March 16, 2020) … DNREC will host a virtual Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) hearing to get public comment on the Public Information Document (PID) for Draft Amendment 7 to the Atlantic Striped Bass Fishery Management Plan (FMP) today, Tuesday, March 16 from 6 to 8 PM. You can find the Public Information Document and information on the draft amendment, connecting to the hearing, and commenting at http://www.asmfc.org/calendar/3/2021/DE-Public-Hearing-on-Striped-Bass-PID/1693

As the first step in the amendment process, the PID seeks input from those interested in striped bass about changes observed in the fishery/resource and potential management measures. It has been 18 years since the last plan amendment to the Atlantic Striped Bass FMP was adopted (Amendment 6). Since then, the status and understanding of the striped bass stock and fishery has changed considerably, which raises concern that the management program no longer reflects current fishery needs and priorities.
The purpose of the PID is to solicit stakeholder input on prioritizing the importance of each topic for continued development and potential inclusion in the Draft Amendment.
The PID considers the following management topics:
(1) fishery goals and objectives;
(2) biological reference points;
(3) management triggers;
(4) stock rebuilding targets and schedule;
(5) regional management;
(6) management program equivalency (conservation equivalency);
(7) recreational release mortality;
(8) recreational accountability;
(9) coastal commercial quota allocation; and
(10) other issues raised in public comments.
 The comment period is open until April 9, 2021.  For more information, contact the DNREC Fisheries Section at (302)739-9914.