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Harvest Management Case Study

Saltwater Fishing & Atlantic Striped Bass (Morone saxatilis)

Cheyenne Fraley
ENVL 3121: Wildlife Management
Dr. Catherine Tredick
April 14th, 2023

Question/Issue at Hand
Saltwater fishing refers to any method of fishing in bodies of salt water. Management of
saltwater fishing is overseen by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries). NOAA Fisheries manages United States fisheries
within the U.S. exclusive economic zone alongside federal, regional, state, and territorial
partners—The term “fisheries” includes commercial, recreational and subsistence fishing
(NOAA Fisheries, 2023). The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) works
alongside NOAA Fisheries specifically with Atlantic striped bass (Morone saxatilis) management
planning in all states along the eastern coastline of the United States.
The issue at hand is that saltwater fishing can become a threat to fish population levels
and affect ecosystem structures if not managed sustainably. Regulations set in place to
sustainably manage saltwater fish harvest should satisfy both saltwater anglers and fish species
population health. Congress authorizes NOAA Fisheries to create and enforce regulations and the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act established regional councils for
making fishing regulations (NOAA Fisheries, 2023). Regulations are created and developed
through councils who gather information from stakeholders and the public and utilize it to
develop actions, plans, and amendments; public hearings are held once developments are made,
and the final actions are submitted to NOAA Fisheries for review and implementation (NOAA
Fisheries, 2023).
Specifically in the case of Atlantic striped bass in the New England/Mid-Atlantic and
Southeast areas, management of the species is established under a rebuilding plan since the
population has been classified as overfished. Atlantic striped bass are overfished, were
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experiencing overfishing and are still threatened from overfishing and its repercussions—for
example, catch-and-release mortality rates from stress or injuries (Monacelli, 2020).

Economic/social/political questions
How does overfishing affect fisheries including occupations, commercial businesses, and
other monetary standpoints? How does sustainable management of fish populations affect these
businesses, recreational fishermen, and the industry? What are the consequences of illegal,
unreported, and unregulated fishing? —can it be accounted for in establishing the state of
populations and in management planning? Does fishing for recreation/consumption (subsistence)
have differing regulations from commercial fisheries? How can saltwater fishermen be appeased
by harvest management methods without detriment to fish populations? Can harvest restrictions
have an economic impact on a community/region?

Ecological/biological questions
After a population is rebuilt and regulations are less strict, will they have revised fishing
regulations compared to before their overfished status? How does an overfished population of
Atlantic striped bass affect other species? How can harvest rates be maintained to allow Atlantic
striped bass to produce their maximum yield? How can supply be increased without decreasing
Atlantic striped bass populations?

Stakeholders

Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC)

Point of view: The commission’s point of view is sustainability of Atlantic coast fishery
resources (ASMFC, 2023). including Atlantic striped bass, is important in keeping populations
stable for fisheries usage. Atlantic striped bass are classified as an overfished species, and
rebuilding the population under a sustainable management plan is essential to keep them from
endangerment and available as a resource to both commercial and recreational fishing. Their
dedication and investment toward marine fisheries management and science will return great
economic and social benefits to the nation for future generations.
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Recommendation: ASMFC recommends that following sustainable management of

marine resources, including Atlantic striped bass, will allow for continued use of the resource—
reinforcing job security, seafood supply and economic and social benefits. Slot limits (both
minimum and maximum size limits for keeping) are set, eliminating the ability to keep a
“trophy” Atlantic striped bass at a larger size. Slot limits are typically used to ensure younger fish
continue to grow and reproduce, and larger, older fish, can continue to be “breeders”.
Assumptions: ASMFC assumes that an increase in health of resources means more jobs
and more opportunities for those living on the coast (ASMFC, 2023). It is assumed that
fishermen will report all fish caught and kept, and that all fish kept are within legal limits of size
and amounts. The ASMFC may assume that the information and data is correct with regard to the
population of species, and this can help keep accurate regulation setting. Although, if the
population numbers are smaller than what is assumed, regulations may not be “strict” enough in
limiting removals to achieve their goals. They may also assume that information and data may be
skewed due to illegal and unreported fishing removals, and therefore regulations may be more
limiting. The ASMFC may also assume that New Jersey fisherman are all signing up for the
saltwater registry, which takes place of saltwater fishing lisences in New Jersey. The registry
helps to collect data used for policy making (Radel, 2020).

Fishermen
Point of view: The inability to keep trophy fish from slot limits will take the fun out of
striper fishing, and tournaments are in jeopardy (Warren, 2020). They believe that fishermen that
have worked hard to catch trophy fish, and not being allowed to keep them takes away from their
recognition. Some fishermen understand that regulations help keep fishing resources at
sustainable levels for continued use, while others believe that fishing should be unregulated, and
freedom in harvesting should be allowed as a constitutional right to fish for sport and subsistence
(Olander, 2018).
Recommendation: New Jersey should follow coast-wide regulations for Atlantic striped
bass, in other words eliminating conservation equivalency (CE). Conservation equivalency is
where states may be able to pursue alternative regulations than other states in the region to
account for any state or regional differences while still achieving for conservation goals
(Friedrich, 2020). They may recommend that New Jersey stays with coast-wide regulations as
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their CE proposal may limit keeper fish to 24 to 29 inches instead of 28 to 38 inches, which is a
significant size difference for fishermen who want to keep bigger fish (American Saltwater
Guides Association, 2020). They also recommend that older, larger “trophy” fish should be
allowed to be kept—size limits should only be for fish too small to keep.
Assumptions: Atlantic striped bass populations regenerate enough during the off-season
to account for overfishing, and conservation equivalency (CE) is not proven to be effective
(Warren, 2020). Slot limits take away from a fisherman’s recognition for hard work and “big
catches” as they cannot keep their catch and it must be released. Fisherman may assume that the
ASMFC data is skewed where the population of fish may be more stable than they are presenting
to fishermen, and regulations are more limiting than they should be as a result. They may also
assume that in following regulations and helping to rebuild species populations, regulations will
become less strict as the population restores.

Literature Review

Ecological Factors
In both 2020 and 2021, an estimated 5.1 million Atlantic striped bass were removed from
commercial and recreational fishing—with 86% of removals being from recreation (ASMFC,
2023). Recreational fishing is currently managed by setting bag limits, size limits and/or slot
limits, and determined fishing seasons. The average commercial harvest of Atlantic striped bass
was 16% lower in 2020-2021 than from 2015-2019. Since 1990, 90% of Atlantic striped bass are
released after catch—9% of those released face mortality due to stress or injury from fishing
interaction (ASMFC, 2023). From 2018 to 2021, 37% of total release mortality was from
recreational removals, 11% from commercial harvest and 2% from commercial discards. Anglers
may not be aware of stress and injury induced mortality from release since it is typically not
immediate. Hook wounds are small, minor injuries but any damage to gills, eyes or internal
organs could be fatal (FFWCC, 2023). Fish should be caught, handled, and released efficiently
and quickly to avoid oxygen deprivation, kept on wet towels, and held horizontally—not
vertically as typically seen in posed photos (FWCC, 2023). Overall, the average commercial
harvest of Atlantic striped bass was 16% lower in 2020-2021 than from 2015-2019.
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Management Options and Actions

Female spawning stock biomass (SSB) and fishing mortality rate (F) are estimated to
understand the status of the species population; in 2022, calculations estimated that Atlantic
striped bass are still overfished but not experiencing overfishing (ASMFC, 2023). The current
status of the species reveals that they are still overfished, but not to the same extent as prior to
the management plan implementation. Since management for overfishing has become more
rigorous in limitations in recent years, Atlantic striped bass removal has decreased 24% from
2017 (where the population was terminally facing overfishing) which is 6% more than the goal
for 2021. Currently, implemented management strategies include utilizing a commercial ocean
quota (2,411,154 pounds for 2021), commercial fish tagging programs, reduction of removal, use
of circle hooks only for safe catch-and-release to lower release mortality rates, reporting juvenile
striped bass catch-and-releases, and increase in law enforcement reports (ASMFC, 2023).
Commercial and recreational fisheries are managed differently in state waters. Commercial
fisheries can be managed through state-by-state catch quotas, minimum size limits, gear
restrictions, seasonal closures and bycatch monitoring and research programs. Recreational
fisheries are managed only by minimum and maximum size and bag limits, and seasonal closures
(NOAA Fisheries, 2023). In New Jersey, the 2023 regulations for Atlantic striped bass include a
limitation to one fish 28 inches to less than 38 inches per day. The New Jersey Striped Bass
Bonus Program (SBBP) allows one additional fish 24 inches to 28 inches per permit for the
entirety of the season, May 15th to December 31st, 2023; SBBP Fish must be reported withing 24
hours of harvest. Alongside the size and bag limitations, New Jersey fishermen must also use
inline (non-offset) circle hooks for striped bass fishing (NJFWS, 2023).

Economic, Political and Social Aspects

In understanding commercial and recreational fishermen’s ideals, satisfaction and
preferences in saltwater fishing, fisheries managers can better determine and implement
regulations for sustainable management of species. These aspects may be understood through
surveying and determining goals of fishermen. In example, do they want to catch fish for
consumption? Catch a trophy-sized fish? Catch the bag limit? Catch as many fish as possible for
catch-and-release recreation? Target a specific species? (Brinson & Wallmo, 2017). In the study
conducted by Brinson and Wallmo (2017), it is noted that when implementing a management
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plan, participants should be informed about the issues and resources, communicated of essential
information freely, have a stake in the outcome, change is slow/incremental, and the resource
conditions stay stable. In informing the public/fishermen about change and the science-based
reasonings for management actions, participant compliance can be increased. For recreational
fishermen, expenses towards fishing trips for striped bass include stocking up on rods and reels,
using boats (fuel, purchase), electronics (GPS, fish finders), bait, and other equipment can add up
quickly; the recreational fishery sector impacts a region or state’s economy through all of its
expenses. Commercial fisheries input retail sales of harvest into the economy and can provide
jobs to those living on the coast (Southwick Associates, 2011).
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Bibliography

American Saltwater Guides Association. (2020). Conservation equivalency proposals are coming
out. American Saltwater Guides Association.
https://saltwaterguidesassociation.com/conservation-equivalency-proposals-are-coming-
out/

Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC), (2023). About Us. ASMFC.
https://asmfc.org/about-us/program-overview

Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC), (2022). Review of the Interstate Fishery
Management Plan for Atlantic Striped Bass (Morone saxatilis- 2021 Fishing Year.
ASMFC.https://asmfc.org/uploads/file/63cc17e6StripedBassFMPReview_FY2021_BoardA
pproved.pdf

Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC). (2023). Species-Atlantic Striped Bass.
ASMFC. https://asmfc.org/species/atlantic-striped-bass

Brinson, A. A., & Wallmo, K. (2017). Determinants of Saltwater Anglers’ Satisfaction with
Fisheries Management: Regional Perspectives in the United States. American Fisheries
Society. https://afspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02755947.2016.1235629

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FFWCC). (n.d.). Techniques to reduce
catch-and-release mortality. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
https://myfwc.com/research/saltwater/fish/snook/reduce-catch-release-mortality/

Friedrich, T. (2020). Conservation equivalency proposals are coming out. American Saltwater
Guides Association. https://saltwaterguidesassociation.com/conservation-equivalency-
proposals-are-coming-out

Monacelli, A. (2020). DEP announces new catch-and-release Striped Bass Requirement. The
Daily Journal. https://www.thedailyjournal.com/story/news/2020/12/24/nj-announces-
new-catch-and-release-striped-bass-fishing-requirement-circle-hooks/4039221001/
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National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries, (2023). Understanding

fisheries management in the United States. NOAA.
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/insight/understanding-fisheries-management-united-states

New Jersey Fish and Wildlife. (2022). Marine. Fish & Wildlife.
https://dep.nj.gov/njfw/fishing/marine/

New Jersey Fish and Wildlife. (2023). NJDEP: Fish & wildlife: striped bass bonus program.
Striped Bass Bonus Program. https://dep.nj.gov/njfw/fishing/marine/striped-bass-bonus-
program/

Olander, D. (2018). Should We Abolish Fishing Regulations? Sport Fishing Magazine.

https://www.sportfishingmag.com/should-we-abolish-fishing-regulations/

Radel, D. (2020). What you need to know about N.J.'s new striped bass regulations. Asbury Park
Press. https://www.app.com/story/sports/outdoors/fishing/hook-line-and-sinker/
2020/03/09/nj-fishing-striped-bass-regulations-2020/4999812002/

Southwick Associates. (2011). Striped bass - Southwick associates. The Economics of

Recreational and Commercial Striped Bass Fishing.
https://www.southwickassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Striped_Bass.pdf

Warren, M. S. (2020). Trophy fish now off-limits as N.J. Reels in rules for Striper Fishing.
nj.com. https://www.nj.com/news/2020/02/trophy-fish-now-off-limits-as-nj-reels-in-
rules-for-striper-fishing.html