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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, OCTOBER 31, 2005 Striped Bass Stock Assessment Indicates Healthy Stock Total Abundance, Female Spawning Stock Biomass and Recruitment Remain High Scientific advice presented to the Commission's Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board today indicates that striped bass management under Amendment 6 to the Interstate Plan continues to be a success. The resource remains at a high level of abundance at 65.3 million pounds, 10 percent higher than the average stock size for the previous five years. Female spawning stock biomass (SSB) is estimated at 54.8 million pounds and is well above the SSB target and threshold levels of 38.6 and 30.9 million pounds, respectively. Recruitment of young fish (age 1) at 12.7 million is close to the average recruitment observed since the stock was first declared recovered in 1995.  The stock is not overfished and overfishing is not occurring, with 2004 fishing mortality estimated at 0.40, below the Amendment 6 threshold of 0.41. Total catch has risen to 5.2 million fish, a 33 percent increase since implementation of Amendment 6 in 2003. Recreational harvest and discards accounted for 72.5 percent of the total mortality, with the majority of fish harvested by anglers in Virginia, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Maryland and North Carolina. Commercial catch has risen slightly to 1.42 million fish, with Maryland commercial fisheries accounting for half of the harvest. Based on the advice of the Technical Committee, the Board maintained the states' management programs at status quo. The Technical Committee will continue to monitor the status of the stock and refine stock assessment methodology as necessary. The next peer reviewed stock assessment is scheduled for 2007. Copies of the stock assessment will be available on the Commission website (www.asmfc.org under Breaking News) by mid-November. For more information, please contact Lydia Munger, Fisheries Management Plan Coordinator, at (202)289-6400 or <lmunger@asmfc.org>. ************************* Tina Berger Public Affairs Specialist Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission 1444 I Street. NW, Sixth Floor Washington, DC 20005 Phone: (202)289-6400 FAX: (202)289-6051 Email: tberger@asmfc.org www.asmfc.org ASMFC Vision: Healthy, self-sustaining populations of all Atlantic coast fish species or successful restoration well in progress by the year 2015.
Contact: Nancy Fish, Marine Fisheries MOREHEAD CITY- The North Carolina Marie Fisheries Commission is continuing to seek interested individuals to serve as advisors in developing the Sea Mullet Fishery Management Plan (FMP). Sea mullet, also known as kingfish or Virginia mullet, are an important recreational and commercial species in North Carolina. Three species of sea mullet occur in North Carolina, southern, northern and gulf kingfish. The advisory committee will be composed of representatives from the commercial, recreational and scientific communities to assist in developing long-term management goals for the three species of sea mullet. FMP’s include information on the nature and concerns of the fishery, habitat and water quality issues, and status of the stock. The FMP will be prepared by the Division of Marine Fisheries. Individuals interested in serving as advisors should be willing to attend meetings at least once every two months and actively participate in the committee process. Advisors will be reimbursed for travel and other expenses incurred in relation to their official duties. Advisor applications are available at Division of Marine Fisheries’ offices or by calling 252-726-7021 or 800-682-2632. The advisory committee is scheduled to begin meeting in December. Applications should be returned by November 15, 2005 to the Division of Marine Fisheries, P.O. Box 769, Morehead City, North Carolina 28557. Attention: Jess Hawkins. For information about sea mullet and the advisory committee process, please contact John Schoolfield by e-mail at John.Schoolfield@ncmail.net or Chip Collier by e-mail at Chip.Collier@ncmail.net or by calling 910-769-7125 or 800-248-4536.
Contact:Nancy Fish, Marine Fisheries MARINE FISHERIES COMMISSION SEEKS SEA MULLET ADVSIORS MOREHEAD CITY- The North Carolina Marie Fisheries Commission is looking for interested individuals to serve as advisors in developing the Sea Mullet Fishery Management Plan (FMP). Sea mullet, also known as kingfish or Virginia mullet, are an important recreational and commercial species in North Carolina. Three species of sea mullet occur in state waters, southern, northern and gulf kingfish. The advisory committee will be composed of representatives from the commercial, recreational and scientific communities to assist in developing long-term management goals for the three species of sea mullet. FMP’s include information on the nature and concerns of the fishery, habitat and water quality issues, and status of the stock. The FMP will be prepared by the Division of Marine Fisheries. Individuals interested in serving as advisors should be willing to attend meetings at least once every two months and actively participate in the committee process. Advisors will be reimbursed for travel and other expenses incurred in relation to their official duties. Advisor applications are available at Division of Marine Fisheries’ offices or by calling 252-726-7021 or 800-682-2632. The advisory committee is scheduled to begin meeting in December. Applications should be returned by October 26, 2005 to the Division of Marine Fisheries, P.O. Box 769, Morehead City, North Carolina 28557. Attention: Jess Hawkins. For information about sea mullet and the advisory committee process, please contact John Schoolfield by e-mail at John.Schoolfield@ncmail.net or Chip Collier by e-mail at Chip.Collier@ncmail.net or by calling 910-769-7125 or 800-248-4536.
Contact: Nancy Fish, Marine Fisheries MOREHEAD CITY - The N.C. Marine Patrol, law enforcement branch of the state Division of Marine Fisheries, has added a new officer to its ranks. |
| NC Division of Marine Fisheries - 3441 Arendell Street - Morehead City, NC 28557 - 252-726-7021 or 800-682-2632 |
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