You may have seen the news from VIMS (Virginia Institute of Marine Science) in October, An “off” year for juvenile striped bass in Virginia waters for 2023. The key takeaway: “The 2023 value [4.26] is significantly lower than the historic average of 7.77 fish per seine haul and is a notable decrease in annual recruitment compared with recent years in which catches of striped bass were rated average or above average.”
The data matter: “Striped bass play an important role as a top predator in the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem and are a valuable resource for commercial and recreational anglers.”
The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) seeks comments from the public on Draft Addendum II to Amendment 7 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Striped Bass (PDF). The deadline for comments is December 22.