From the headwaters to the blue waters.
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Coldwater
Whether the high mountain streams of the Appalachians, the limestone creeks of the Shenandoah and Susquehanna Valleys or the creeks of the Piedmont Plateau, the Chesapeake Region holds a large and diverse range of coldwater habitat. FFI, alongside its conservation partners such as Trout Unlimited, works to ensure the health of these fragile, yet resilient, fisheries.
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Warmwater
The Chesapeake Region is home to a diverse mix of native species such as Chain Pickerel and Bowfin, as well as introduced species such as Smallmouth Bass and Muskellunge. Boasting several world-class warmwater rivers such as the New, James, Shenandoah, Potomac and Susquehanna, as well as tidal swamps and estuaries like the Chickahominy River and Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, FFI works to conserve our region’s warmwater fisheries.
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Saltwater
The Chesapeake Bay is one of the world’s largest estuaries and vital habitat for many different gamefish. A crucial nursery for the East Coast’s striped bass, the Bay also plays host to Redfish (aka Red Drum), Speckled Trout, Cobia, and many others. FFI works to advocate for the responsible management of these incredible species.
Support Striped Bass - ASMFC Public Comment Period
We are asking all FFI Members to submit public comments to the Striped Bass Management Committee of the Atlantic State Marine Fisheries Commission concerning Draft Amendment 7 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Striped Bass. In order to participate, you may attend a public hearing or send in your comments to ASMFC by April 15. Email comments@asmfc.org with the subject line “Amendment 7.”
In particular, we are asking members to make their voices heard on the following four issues. The Council’s positions are listed below, and we encourage members to consider supporting these positions as well.
4.1 Management Triggers
Tier 1: Fishing Mortality (F) triggers
Option A: Timeline to Reduce F to the Target
CCFFI Supports Sub-option A1 (current management): Reduce F to a level that is at or below the target within one year.
Option B: F Threshold Triggers
CCFFI Supports Sub-option B1 (current management): If F exceeds the F threshold, the striped bass management program must be adjusted to reduce F to a level that is at or below the target within the timeframe selected under Option A.
Option C: F Target Triggers
CCFFI Supports Sub-option C1 (current management): If F exceeds the F target for two consecutive years and female SSB falls below the SSB target in either of those years, the striped bass management program must be adjusted to reduce F to a level that is at or below the target within the timeframe selected under sub-option A.
Tier 2: Spawning Stock Biomass Triggers
Option A: Deadline to Implement a Rebuilding Plan
CCFFI Supports Sub-option A2: Two-Year Deadline to Implement a Rebuilding Plan. The Board must implement a rebuilding plan within two years from when an SSB-based management trigger is tripped.
Option B: SSB Threshold Trigger
CCFFI Supports Sub-option B1 (current management): If female SSB falls below the SSB threshold, the striped bass management program must be adjusted to rebuild the biomass to the target level within an established timeframe [not to exceed 10 years].
Option C: SSB Target Trigger
CCFFI Supports Sub-option C1 (current management): If female SSB falls below the target for two consecutive years and the fishing mortality rate exceeds the target in either of those years, the striped bass management program must be adjusted to rebuild the biomass to a level that is at or above the target within an established timeframe [not to exceed 10-years].
Tier 3: Recruitment Triggers
Option A: Recruitment Trigger Definition
CCFFI Supports Sub-option A2: The recruitment trigger is tripped when any of the four Juvenile Abundance Indices (JAIs) used in the stock assessment model to estimate recruitment (NY, NJ, MD, VA) shows an index value that is below 75% of all values (i.e., below the 25th percentile) in the respective Juvenile Abundance Index from 1992-2006 (which represents a period of high recruitment) for three consecutive years.
Option B: Management Response to Recruitment Trigger
CCFFI Supports Sub-option B2: If the recruitment trigger is tripped, an interim F target calculated using the low recruitment assumption is implemented, and if F from the terminal year of the most recent stock assessment is above the interim F target, the striped bass management program must be adjusted to reduce F to the interim F target within one year.
Tier 4: Deferred Management Action
CCFFI Supports Option A (current management): No Deferred Management Action. If any (or all) of the management triggers are tripped following a benchmark stock assessment or assessment update, the Board is required to respond to that trigger regardless of when the last management action was implemented in response to any management trigger.
4.2.2 Measures to Address Recreational Release Mortality
CCFFI Supports Sub-option C1: Recreational anglers would be prohibited from using any device other than a nonlethal device to remove a striped bass from the water or assist in the releasing of a striped bass.
CCFFI Supports Sub-option C2: Striped bass caught on any unapproved method of take would be returned to the water immediately without unnecessary injury.
Option D. Outreach and Education
CCFFI Supports Sub-option D2: It is recommended states continue to promote best striped bass handling and release practices by developing public education and outreach campaigns. States should provide updates on public education and outreach efforts in annual state compliance reports. Best practices could include those listed in sub-option D1.
4.4 Rebuilding Plan
4.4.1 Recruitment Assumption for Rebuilding Calculation
CCFFI Supports Option B: Rebuild female SSB to the SSB target level by no later than 2029. F rebuild is calculated to achieve the SSB target by no later than 2029 using the low recruitment regime assumption as identified by the change point analysis.
4.4.2 Rebuilding Plan Framework
CCFFI Supports Option B: If the 2022 stock assessment results indicate the Amendment 7 measures have less than a 50% probability of rebuilding the stock by 2029 (as calculated using the recruitment assumption specified in Amendment 7) and if the stock assessment indicates at least a 5% reduction in removals is needed to achieve F rebuild, the Board may adjust measures to achieve F rebuild via Board action.
4.6.2 Management Program Equivalency
Option B. Restrict the Use of Conservation Equivalency Based on Stock Status
CCFFI Supports Sub-option B1-a: CE programs would not be approved when the stock is at or below the biomass threshold (i.e., overfished). CE programs would not be considered until a subsequent stock assessment indicates stock biomass is above the threshold level.
Option C. Precision Standards for MRIP Estimates Used in Conservation Equivalency Proposals
CCFFI Supports Sub-option C3: CE proposals would not be able to use Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP) estimates associated with a percent standard error (PSE) exceeding 30%.
Option D. Conservation Equivalency Uncertainty Buffer for Non-Quota Managed Fisheries
CCFFI Supports Sub-option D2: Proposed CE programs for non-quota managed fisheries would be required to include an uncertainty buffer of 25%.
Option E. Definition of Equivalency for CE Proposals with Non-Quota Managed Fisheries
CCFFI Supports Sub-option E2: the percent reduction/liberalization projected for the FMP standard at the state-specific level.