Striped bass and red drum may be off
limits to commercial fishermen

By SUSAN WEST





Gamefish status could be coming for striped bass and red drum, according to Sean McKeon, president of the North Carolina Fisheries Association, a trade group for the state’s commercial fishing industry.

“We received confirmation Friday morning (Oct. 12) that President Bush plans to either issue an executive order designating the two species gamefish or to direct fishery management councils to do so,” said McKeon.

The legal designation would place the species off-limits to commercial fishermen, removing the fish from the marketplace. 

“This action would be a total circumvention of the fisheries management process established by Congress,” said McKeon.

He said that commercial fishermen have shouldered harvest restrictions for both species and have anticipated sharing in less stringent regulations as the stocks have grown healthier.

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission officially declared striped bass recovered in 1995.  Recreational fishermen harvested 81 percent of the 36.47 million pound Atlantic harvest in 2006.

The North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries lists the red drum stock as recovering.  In 2006, North Carolina anglers harvested 216,115 pounds and commercial fishermen landed 168,489 pounds. 

“There’s no doubt that the President intends to take this action at the request of the CCA (Coastal Conservation Association),” said McKeon.

The CCA, an organization of sportfishermen and associated industries, began in Texas in 1977 with a campaign to make red drum, more commonly called redfish along the Gulf of Mexico, and speckled trout gamefish. 

The group has secured gamefish designations in Texas, Alabama, South Carolina, Florida, Louisiana, and other states.

Josh Bowlen, legislative director for U.S. Rep. Walter B. Jones, R-N.C., said Monday that Jones believes the President plans to send a strong statement in support of strict conservation actions to the regional management councils, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, and state fishery agencies as early as next week. 
 
“Congressman Jones has asked folks within the administration to keep in mind that more than one sector depends on access to these species and that livelihoods are at stake,” said Bowlen.

Katie Hallaway, communications director for U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole, R-N.C., said Dole has expressed concern to the White House about the negative impact to North Carolina’s commercial fishermen and small businesses.
“We must work to ensure that fish populations, like red drum and striped bass, remain strong.  However, our commercial fishermen should not solely bear the responsibility of maintaining healthy fish stocks in the Atlantic,” said Republican Sen. Richard Burr.

Outer Banks commercial fishermen said gamefish designations don’t impact just commercial fishermen.

“Gamefish status will deny access to this public trust resource to people who want to eat striped bass or red drum but don’t have either the time or the money or the desire to go recreational fishing,” said Rob West of Buxton.“


   

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