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ASMFC Public Hearing on Striped Bass Management
August 22, 2019
The DEEP Marine Fisheries Program is hosting two public hearings of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission to gather input on Draft Addendum VI to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Striped Bass. Draft Addendum VI was initiated in response to the 2018 Benchmark Stock Assessment, which indicates the resource is overfished and experiencing overfishing. The Draft Addendum explores a range of management alternatives designed to end overfishing and reduce fishing mortality to the target level in 2020.

The hearings will be held at:
7:00 PM, Monday September 23, 2019
DEEP Marine Headquarters Boating Education Center (rear building)
333 Ferry Road
Old Lyme, CT 06371


7:00 PM, Wednesday September 25, 2019
Port 5 Hall
69 Brewster Street
Bridgeport, CT 06605
    
The Draft Addendum proposes management options for both commercial and recreational sectors in the ocean and in Chesapeake Bay in order to reduce total fishery removals by 18% relative to 2017 levels. The proposed measures include reduced quotas for commercial fisheries and minimum size, and slot size limit options for the recreational sector. Since catch and release mortality is a significant component of overall fishing mortality, the Draft Addendum also explores the mandatory use of circle hooks when fishing with bait to reduce release mortality in recreational striped bass fisheries.

Draft Addendum VI is available at:
http://www.asmfc.org/files/PublicInput/StripedBassDraftAddVI_PublicComment_Aug2019.pdf
Or via the Commission’s website at
http://www.asmfc.org/about-us/public-input.

Fishermen and other stakeholders are encouraged to provide input on Draft Addendum VI either by attending one of the public hearings or providing written comment. Public comment will be accepted until 5 PM on October 7, 2019 and should be sent to Max Appelman, Fishery Management Plan Coordinator, 1050 N. Highland St, Suite A-N, Arlington, VA 22201; 703.842.0741 (FAX) or at
comments@asmfc.org (Subject line: Striped Bass Draft Addendum VI).

Final action on the Addendum is scheduled to occur at the Commission’s Annual Meeting in October. For more information specific to the Connecticut hearings, please contact the DEEP Marine Fisheries Program by email at
deep.marine.fisheries@ct.gov, by mail at PO Box 719, Old Lyme, CT 06371 or by telephone at 860.434.6043 between the hours of 8:30 AM and 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday.

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer that is committed to requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Any person with a disability who may need information in an alternative format may contact the agency's ADA Coordinator at 860-424-3194, or at
deep.hrmed@ct.gov. Any person with limited proficiency in English, who may need information in another language, may contact the agency's Title VI Coordinator at 860-424-3035, or at deep.aaoffice@ct.gov. Any person with a hearing impairment may call the State of Connecticut relay number - 711. Discrimination complaints may be filed with DEEP's Title VI Coordinator.
(N19-06)