Kent County Coms Oppose New Striper Commercial Cutoffs

My Eastern Shore.com Kent commissioners oppose striped bass limits

On Aug. 29, the Kent County commissioners signed a letter expressing their opposition to proposed striped bass (rockfish) limits, sending it to Maryland Natural Resources Secretary Josh Kurtz.

The commissioners voiced opposition to the Fishery Management Plan Amendment III to Addendum VI, which proposes a 12 percent reduction in the harvest of striped bass. They said the changes would reduce the commercial fishing industry’s ability to harvest striped bass by 58 percent.

The letter also objected to new regulations allowing catch-and-release fishing from January through May, a period that has been closed the past six years to protect spawning fish. The commissioners said the policy contradicts the Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ proposal last year to safeguard spawning stock biomass with a 2029 recovery goal. They added that Kent County’s recreational and charter boat industry would be hurt by a non-targeting closure from July 15 to Aug. 31, when boats would be prohibited from catching rockfish. That closure normally lasts two weeks.

“This is unnecessary and will create significant hardships for the industry, economic tourism in the county and income generated by fishers,” the letter stated. Commission President Ron Fithian, a longtime waterman, said they have already heard of cancellations and reductions in reserved trips for charter boats. “The economic impact on our county and its waterfront businesses will bear financial losses,” Fithian said. “It will erode the economic growth we have worked so hard to develop.”

 

Although the fisheries have faced regulatory reductions in the past, commissioners called the latest proposals a “tipping point,” predicting some food businesses may close for good. Commissioner John Price said, “Unfortunately the Department of Natural Resources is not going to be satisfied until they run the commercial watermen and charter boats out of business.” Price compared the situation to waterfowl hunting, where DNR has allowed Sunday hunting instead of providing a rest and nesting period for birds.

Kent County is very much in thrall to the commercial fishermen. I wonder how they will deal with the moratorium which is clearly coming if the striper population doesn't get a good year class, and a few years to grow up in the near future.  

The Wombat has Rule Five Sunday: The End of Summerup and garnering clicks at The Other McCain.