My understanding of this issue is rudimentary at best so please correct me as needed....
Opening the EEZ (federal waters) would open a whole can of worms that I think most people are unaware of. Currently, the striper is managed on a state by state basis with an overlooking body, the ASMFC.
Wouldn't opening the EEZ create another commercial harvest outside the jurisdiction of thse controlling body?
Wouldn't it allow for the taking of striped bass as a by-catch species? Furthering the burden of the commercial catch on the stock?
I know there are stripers discarded as by-catch presently. However, I fear that with that door open, avoiding the by-catch would be less likely. Is that unreasonable to assume?
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