Managers Advance Next Round of Striped Bass Management Measures

On May 6, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) Striped Bass Management Board took steps toward shaping the future of striped bass management, with a focus on rebuilding the stock by 2029.

The Board reviewed the latest stock projections and discussed Draft Addendum III, a set of proposed management changes scheduled to take effect in 2026. Updated projections show that under current rules, there’s only a 49% chance of rebuilding the striped bass population by 2029. To bump that up to 60%, a 7% reduction in fishery removals would be needed in 2026. But, the Board noted that small reductions (less than 10%) would be tough to measure or enforce due to the uncertainty in harvest estimates.

Draft Addendum III includes potential changes to:

The Board voted to move forward with a trimmed list of recreational and commercial options and asked for additional data to be included, such as scenarios assuming continued low recruitment of young stripers. A revised version of Draft Addendum III will be considered for public comment in August 2025.

These discussions are part of a larger effort that includes a full benchmark stock assessment, scheduled for 2027. Stay tuned for updates on how you can get involved when public comment opens later this summer.

Source: https://onthewater.com/managers-advance-next-round-of-striped-bass-management-measures

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