Cape Cod fishermen speak out against proposed ban on commercial striped bass fishing

Published on Friday, January 15, 2010

CAPE COD COMMERCIAL HOOK FISHERMAN'S ASSOCIATION

Fishermen visit State House to debate House Bill 796

Cape Cod and Islands striped bass fishermen turned out en masse at the State House this week to oppose the elimination of commercial striped bass fishing. At a hearing of the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture on Thursday, fishermen from across the state noted that the striped bass population is in good health according to all recent stock assessments and argued that the bill would effectively eliminate an important source of their income.

"Striped bass was the first commercial fishery I ever did," said longtime commercial fisherman Leo Maher of Chatham. "With it being a robust fishery, I'm now able to pass it down to my son. Between the money I would lose if they took the striped bass fishery away and the time I wouldn't get to spend with my son, it would be devastating if this bill was enacted."

House Bill 796, proposed by Representative Matt Patrick of Falmouth and supported by recreational fishermen's group 'Stripers Forever,' would abolish all commercial fishing of striped bass in Massachusetts' waters. Though recreational fishing would continue under the bill, the proposal would reduce the number and size of striped bass recreational fishermen could keep per day. Currently, commercial striped bass catch makes up less than 20 percent of the total fishery. (See graph below)



Dozens of commercial and recreational fishermen, along with charter boat business owners and fish buyers and sellers, came out in opposition to the bill at Thursday's hearing. Additionally, Senator Robert O'Leary, Representative Cleon Turner and Representative Sarah Peake spoke out against the bill.


"There is already an entity responsible for the management of fisheries, and it is not clear there is a problem with the striped bass stock," Senator O'Leary testified. "We should allow the people at the Division of Marine Fisheries to do their job. Why should we target one group, commercial fishermen?"

Representatives from the Cape Cod Commercial Hook Fishermen's Association - a non-profit organization which works with small-boat commercial fishermen to promote responsible fishing practices- also attended the hearing and opposed the bill as did a number of fishermen and selectmen from Martha's Vineyard.

"We are strongly opposed to House bill 796," said Sue Nickerson, Executive Director of the Hook Association, at Thursday's hearing. "It serves no conservation interest, unfairly penalizes the commercial bass fishery, and threatens a valued element in our summer tourism economy- access to fresh summer striper at our local fish stores and restaurants."

The bill is currently under review by the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture and a decision is pending.