SAVE THE STRIPERS

Campaign Overview

THE PROBLEM
Although the recovery of striped bass is a major success story for fishery management, a new threat is emerging in the Atlantic. The resurgent population of rockfish is not finding enough to eat and, if something isn't done, it could lead to a future collapse in the fishery.

The facts are that up to 90% of striped bass on the east coast spawn in the Chesapeake Bay. The diet of large adult striped bass is 70-80% menhaden, and most of this consumption is of juveniles. The Chesapeake produces nearly half of each new generation of menhaden. And, the population of juvenile menhaden is in decline, reaching a historic low in 2001. Therefore we know the health of the striped bass population, from Maine to North Carolina, is intricately linked to that of the menhaden stock. Menhaden fill an important niche in the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem, and their wholesale removal is having detrimental impacts, not only for striped bass but other species as well.

Many of you have asked us, why the big push to curtail menhaden fishing now, this has been a problem for many years? There are several reasons, including that in the near future large striped bass will be increasing in number as the strong year classes of the 1990s mature. Populations of the other two major menhaden predators, weakfish and bluefish, are also being rebuilt to healthy levels. And, much of the new information being provided by our ecosystem modeling techniques is proving that large-scale menhaden fishing in the Bay is having negative ecological impacts.

OUR SOLUTION
We are working with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (aka ASMFC, the body responsible for managing both striped bass and menhaden) to better manage populations of Atlantic menhaden, to address mounting concerns about the diminished role of menhaden, on a Bay-wide as well as coast-wide basis.

In December 2003 we submitted a detailed proposal to the ASMFC with specific recommendations for menhaden conservation.

Our objective in 2005 was to obtain interim fishery management measures to reduce the risk of localized depletion of menhaden in Chesapeake Bay and possible adverse impacts on other species and fisheries. We requested a cap on the industrial menhaden harvest, and are pleased to report we were successful! The ASMFC in August 2005 placed a cap on the industrial harvest of menhaden in the Chesapeake Bay. The cap is in place while the stock status of menhaden is carefully examined, and future management options are considered. A menhaden stock assessment is planned for 2009. There is still work to do!

We can't let the striper go from a poster fish for good conservation to a symbol of what can go wrong when we ignore a fish's ecological needs. Check this web site periodically for future action items, and . . .

**Please consider making a donation to NCMC as we work with the ASMFC to guarantee a vital future for striped bass!**
Donate to our Save the Stripers campaign (part of our "Conserving Marine Ecosystems" program)

WHO WE ARE
The National Coalition for Marine Conservation (NCMC) was founded by conservation-minded anglers thirty years ago to protect the future of fish and fishing.  We were a major player in the effort to bring back the striped bass on the Atlantic seaboard.

• In 1977 we held a workshop laying the groundwork for the Interstate Striped Bass Management Project
  
  
• In 1980 we organized a national conference that led to the adoption of the Interstate Fishery Management Plan in 1981
  
  
• In 1984 we lobbied successfully for the federal Striped Bass Conservation Act

And, we've already started work on bringing back menhaden and other prey species.

• Since 1997 we've spearheaded the effort to incorporate predator/prey relationships into fisheries management
  
  
• In 2000 we published our influential report, "Conservation in a Fish-Eat-Fish World"
  
  
• NCMC currently serves on the ASMFC's Menhaden Advisory Panel
  
  

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Be sure to check out NCMC's newest publication, released August 2006:  Taking the Bait -- Are America's Fisheries Out-Competing Predators for their Prey?

Get more background on this issue

Donate to our Save the Stripers campaign (part of our "Conserving Marine Ecosystems" program)

Read the latest news on our efforts to Save the Stripers.  Atlantic Menhaden Update: Research is Slow, Bay Catch is Low

NCMC opposes blanket no-fishing zones. Learn more about our position on marine protected areas.