Washington, D.C.---U.S. Representative Tom Allen, a Member of the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus, introduced legislation today with Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ) to make striped bass a game fish rather than a commercial fish throughout its range. Many Eastern Seaboard states, including Maine, have already banned commercial fishing for the popular game fish, recognizing its far greater economic value as a highly sought-after prize for recreational anglers. Banning commercial fishing throughout the striped bass?s range would allow populations of the fish, which nearly disappeared in the 1980s, to continue to rebuild and support the robust recreational fishery.

?Striped bass have become one of Maine?s most valuable sport fish, drawing thousands of anglers to Maine?s coast and supporting guides, tackle shops, and charter services worth tens of millions of dollars,? said Representative Allen. ?Maine has done an excellent job managing stripers, but because most Maine striped bass migrate here each spring from other states, we?re vulnerable to their commercial fisheries. Protecting stripers from commercial pressure is the right thing for Maine?s anglers, the small businesses they support, and the ecology of Maine?s coast.?

?Stripers Forever, with over 10,000 members representing every state in America, applauds Congressmen Allen and Pallone for introducing this legislation,? said Brad Burns, President of Stripers Forever, which advocates game fish status for striped bass. ?This bill recognizes the vastly superior economic value that striped bass have to society when managed for recreational fishing. The pressure of commercial exploitation on this resource makes it impossible to manage it conservatively enough to optimize its value to the more than three million citizens who fish recreationally for striped bass on the East Coast.?

Currently Maine, New Hampshire, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina prohibit commercial fishing for striped bass, while Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina still maintain commercial fisheries for the species. Though recreational anglers vastly outnumber commercial fishermen, 40% of the total harvest is allocated for commercial fishermen.

?There is no question that game fish status for striped bass throughout their range is the right decision for the resource, especially when you look at the economic value of every fish caught,? added Ian Burnes, Executive Director of the Coastal Conservation Association of Maine.

The legislation introduced by Reps. Allen and Pallone bans commercial fishing for striped bass in the ?exclusive economic zone,? waters from three to 200 miles from shore; and directs the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, which regulates fisheries within three miles of the coastline, to ban commercial fishing for striped bass there as well.

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