Article by Larry Jock
Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board concerned about stock assessment
The Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board met on August 6, 2013 to review landings data and abundance indices used in the 2013 benchmark stock assessment, which was peer-reviewed at the 57 SAW/SARC in July 2013 and will be formally considered by the Board in October once the peer review report has been released. Based on the data presented, the Board continues to be concerned about relative low levels of harvestable population over recent years as well as recent downward trends in recreational landings. Given this information and in anticipation of the final results of the benchmark stock assessment, the Board tasked the Plan Development Team to begin drafting an addendum to explore reductions in fishing mortality for possible Board review in October at the Commission’s Annual Meeting.
