A flurry of articles/commentary (print/web) and photographs were circulating yesterday about the discovery of thousands of abandoned stripers off the North Carolina coast in the vicinity of Oregon Inlet and Bodie Island. Some blamed it on poachers (most likely: commercial fishermen stretching/breaking the law). Others the misfortune of a commercial fishing trawler that, having caught so many fish that their engorged net couldn't be lifted from the water, was forced to open it and release the catch (doubtful). Still others pointed to the illegal practice of "high-grading," or throwing away smaller fish in favor of keeping larger fish caught later on (the best explanation by me). Most of the sportfishermen involved--either those fishing that day who witnessed it, or those who posted comments second-hand on the web--were angered by the waste and prolific killing. Conversely, commercial fishing-friendly parties blamed current regulations, which place a commercial limit of 50 fish per day, regardless of weight, which indeed would encourage high-grading.
The first of two articles provided below gives the details. Notably, the second indicates that fisheries officials plan to change the regulations, switching out the 50-fish limit for one based on total pounds, in this case 2,000 pounds per trip. I agree, seems the better way to go.
One of the killing fields
Dead fish "stretching on for miles"
A suspected trawler (note surrounding sportfishermen)
A close-up of the trawler in question
Poachers toss thousands of fish, CG cites striped bass poachers
Updated: Thursday, 20 Jan 2011, 8:34 AM EST
Published : Wednesday, 19 Jan 2011, 11:15 AM EST
Elizabeth McDougall
KITTY HAWK, N.C. (WAVY) - WAVY.com has received numerous e-mails in regard to a major commercial trawler discard off the coast of North Carolina this past weekend. Several people have reported that trawlers fishing off the coast of the Outer Banks were caught tossing thousands of dead, or near dead, rock fish overboard. A YouTube video and several pictures emailed to WAVY.com show the fish floating everywhere.
A concerned fisherman told WAVY.com, "Commercial netters are dredging thousands of striped bass off the Outer Banks, and throwing back thousands of fish in the quest to fill their quotas with the largest fish possible. Miles of dead, floating striped bass are the result. Classic example of poorly designed fishing laws creating waste in a vulnerable and valuable fishery."
According to the Coast Guard , several fishing vessels were cited in violation of federal law, including one vessel in possession of 58 illegally caught Atlantic striped bass. The crew of the Coast Guard cutter Beluga, while on patrol, detected and intercepted the illegal poachers Friday.
Coast Guard officials say the economic pressures being felt nationwide and water temperatures have driven the striped bass population farther off shore into warmer waters, setting the stage for a situation that may entice fishermen to break the law.
Another concerned fisherman told WAVY.com there were several boats in the area Tuesday culling through the fish and said many of them still had life left in them.
In an online forum called " The Hull Truth ," many have expressed outrage and call the discard sickening.
Fishing for striped bass is permitted within state waters, but catching or possessing striped bass in the Exclusive Economic Zone , which begins three nautical miles from shore, is a violation of federal regulations, according to the Coast Guard.
The North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries is investigating the massive discard.
Nancy Fish with the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries told WAVY.com, "Both commercial and recreational fisheries have had issues with discards of striped bass in the past. However, this is the first time in several years that striped bass have migrated this close to the shore."
Fish said the commercial striped bass trawl fishery is scheduled to close at 6 p.m. on Thursday and the division will evaluate the effort and landings in this fishery to determine if quota remains and if the fishery should reopen. The division will also consider if alternative management measures could be used to prevent future discarded dead fish.
Coast Guard officials say federal authorities are taking legal action to ensure the longevity of the striped bass population and maintain a level playing field for all fishermen.
Boaters should be aware that the Coast Guard, as well as others, will continue to aggressively enforce laws and regulations concerning Atlantic striped bass.
WAVY.com
Law to change for catching striped bass. Proclamation to be released on Friday
Updated: Friday, 21 Jan 2011, 6:08 AM EST
Published : Thursday, 20 Jan 2011, 5:30 PM EST
MOREHEAD CITY, N.C. (WAVY) - Officials in North Carolina said they plan to change the law for catching striped bass after thousands of dead fish were released into the water over the weekend.
The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries will replace the current 50-fish-per-day commercial trip limit, which has been in place for 15 years, with a 2,000-pound-per-day limit to avoid the need for fishermen to throw back dead fish.
On Saturday, an overloaded fishing net prompted fishermen on a commercial trawler to release thousands of striped bass they caught off of Bodie Island, officials with the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources said.
After towing through a school of striped bass, fishermen on the commercial trawler Jamie Lynn found the net was so full it was too heavy to bring on the boat. In order to retrieve the net, the fishermen had to open it and release the fish, the boat captain said.
The division is still investigating the incident but has been unable to confirm reports that commercial trawl fishermen were high-grading, or discarding a previously-caught, legal-sized fish in order to keep a larger fish within the daily possession limit.
Commercial fishermen will also be allowed to transfer trip limits to other fishing vessels that hold a striped bass ocean fishing permit for the commercial trawl fishery, but the transfers must be made in the ocean.
The new regulations will be implemented by a proclamation to be released Friday.
The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission will review these actions at its February 11 meeting in Pine Knoll Shores.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment