Recovery of the Striped Bass Morone saxatilis

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Recovery of the Striped Bass Morone saxatilis

• Zach Stauffer

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Striped Bass

• Anadromous species along the Atlantic coast from
  Florida to St. Lawrence estuary in Canada
• Can grow to 6ft in length and 125lbs in weight
• Live to be 30 years old

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Migrations

• Involved in two types of migrations
• Extensive coastal migrations apparently unrelated
  to spawning
• Upriver spawning migration from late winter to
  early spring
• Between 70 and 90 of Atlantic Coast stock spawn
  in the Chesapeake Bay

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Early Fishery

• 1950-1975 Striped Bass fishery continually
  growing
• Very little regulation
• Scientific studies showing a decline

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Collapse

• Late 70s-Early 80s, dramatic decline in
  population
• 1979 Emergency Striped Bass Act
• Primarily research

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Legislation

• Early 80s-Atlantic States Marine Fisheries
  Commission given responsibility
• Congress approves Atlantic Striped Bass
  Conservation Act
• 1985 MD, DE impose moratoriums

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Moratorium

• Shut down fishery
• Consequences
• Negative
• Thousands effected
• Revenue lost
• Positive
• New research opportunities

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Recovery

• Population rebound began quickly
• Hatchery program implemented
• 1989 Moratoriums lifted
• Strict regs left in place
• Seasons
• Size limits
• Fishing licenses
• Catch limits
• Commercial harvest quotas

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Conclusion

• Cooperation
• Government
• Commercial/Recreational sectors
• Public awareness
• Model for future fishery collapses

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THE END