Stripers Forever Members - Massachusetts forecasts the close of its commercial striped bass season in advance based on landings reports. Because the catch rate declined in the late days of the season, not all the quota was taken, and MA DMF reopened the season for two additional days. SF sent the following letter of protest to Director Paul Diodati at the DMF and copies to a list of politicians and officials who are involved with and interested in striped bass management. We urge you to let your feelings be known also. A list of MA contacts is available on the SF website through this link http://www.stripersforever.org/Info/Stripers_MA/index.
If you are a Massachusetts resident, we also urge you to send a copy of this letter along with your own sentiments to your state and national elected officials.
Brad Burns, President
Stripers Forever
Mr. Paul Diodati, Director August 29, 2007
Mass. Division of Marine Fisheries
251 Causeway Street, Suite 400
Boston, MA 02114
Director Diodati:
Stripers Forever is extremely disappointed to learn that the Division of Marine Fisheries has decided to reopen the commercial striped bass fishery for two days in order to account for what the DMF has described as “declining catch rates during the last two weeks of the commercial striped bass fishery.”
As you know, Stripers Forever advocates for a closure of the commercial striped bass fishery in Massachusetts and along the entire Eastern Seaboard. This position is based on evidence that striped bass stocks, and, in particular, the large breeding stripers targeted by commercial anglers, are in decline. That decline confirms Stripers Forever’s conviction that this important species is in dire need of protection by DMF, yet you have inexplicably seen fit to extend the exploitation of striped bass.
Massachusetts had an opportunity to take a leadership position and set an example for the other ASMFC member states by opting to protect and conserve striped bass. Instead, you have decided that a bounty on the head of a striper, for a negligible commercial benefit, is more important than preserving the stocks for the greater public good.
Stripers Forever opposes this decision. We hope that in future management decisions, you will take into account the real social and economic value of the wild striped bass – the most important recreational fish swimming in the North Atlantic.
Respectfully,
Fred Jennings
Massachusetts Chapter President
Stripers Forever
c.c. Secretary Ian Bowles
Senator Pamela Resor
Senator Bruce Tarr
Senator Rob O’Leary
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