Striped Bass hearing

[chrisp]

Is everyone aware of this hearing.

The hearings are coming up next week. We've been down this road 3 times in the last four years and there is absolutely no doubt that this round is by far the most threatening to the fishery. Support for SF is up and reports from the state house suggest that there is a contingent of legislators willing to sign these bills. SF has also continued with their full time lobbyist in Boston, Henri Rauschenbach, while we have not had the services of a lobbyist. In addition to the November 6th hearings, SF and their lobbyist have scheduled numerous meetings for their members to meet with legislators and sway them to vote in favor of the bills.


Response from commercial fishermen regarding the hearings has been slow. All signs suggest that if we do not act now and attend the hearing on November 6th, the fishery will be in jeopardy.


Please begin to organize your transportation and plan to attend the hearing at 1pm on November 6th. If you plan to attend, please let me know via email.

Legislative Hearings for Striped Bass Bills
Wednesday, November 6th at 1PM
State House, Boston​

Understanding the science:
While Coastal Conservation Association may not be our ally, it is important to understand the recreational arguments that will likely be used by Stripers Forever. This write up is a useful interpretation of the stock assessment and regardless of view, you may find it helpful in understanding the situation.
http://www.ccamd.org/?p=1858






















Darren Saletta
Executive Director
Massachusetts Commercial Striped Bass Association

 

[chrisp]

More info

Fishermen & Industry Supporters,


In June, MCSBA successfully lobbied to have the striped bass hearings delayed until the fall so they would not conflict with the peak fishing season. The Joint Committee on Env., Nat Resources, & Ag has just announced that hearings for all house and senate bills regarding the striped bass fishery will take place beginning at 1PM on Wednesday, November 6th at the State House in Boston. If you wish to commercially fish for striped bass ever again in Massachusetts, be there! If you're interest is in buying, selling, serving striped bass OR you benefit from the industry directly or indirectly, be there!


Attached below as a PDF is the hearing schedule as released by the legislature. The hearings will take place in room A-2 of the Massachusetts State House,

24 Beacon St, Boston, MA 02133​

. Please plan to arrive an hour early in Boston to park, clear security, locate and gain entry to room A-2. For those traveling from Cape Cod, please allow extra time due to lane closures on the Sagamore Bridge.
Need Directions: http://goo.gl/maps/Z9gbZ


We expect the group Stripers Forever, the organization responsible for these anti-commercial fishery bills, to have a stronger presence and be more prepared than years past. It is imperative that we fill the room with commercial striped bass fishermen, industry representatives, and supporters of the industry.


Before November 6th: Please contact your state representatives and senators and tell them to not support any of these bills that are all designed to destroy the commercial striped bass fishery in Massachusetts. To identify who your reps are and get their contact info, use this link:
https://malegislature.gov/people/search


The relevant bills, all listed below, are: Bill H.811, Bill H.812, Bill H.659, Bill H.660, Bill S.412, Bill S.413


We will follow up with further details as needed. Please plan to attend and possibly testify on Nov 6th at 1PM.




Thanks,
Darren Saletta
Executive Director
Massachusetts Commercial Striped Bass Association
[email protected]
https://www.facebook.com/masscommbass

 

[duxbait]

1000lb average over past 5yrs is appealing... But a very selfish decision. Licenses wouldn't be transferable. Basically a fishery shut down like fluke has now.

 

[duxbait]

Anyone go today? How's/How'd it go?