The Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) released its 2024 Stock Assessment Update for striped bass at its annual fall meeting last week in Annapolis, MD. While overfishing is not currently occurring, the stock remains overfished relative to updated biological reference points.
The 2023 spawning stock biomass (SSB) is estimated at 77% of the SSB rebuilding target and the fishery remains under a rebuilding plan with a 2029 deadline. Unfortunately, rebuilding and long-term health of the striped bass population is challenged by a trend of low recruitment, with six consecutive year classes since 2018 falling below average in the Chesapeake Bay, the major stock producer area.
Updated short-term population projections indicate a positive rebuilding trend toward the SSB target, but given recent poor recruitment and ongoing uncertainty, the projections estimate less than a 50% probability of achieving the rebuilding target by the 2029 deadline.
The Board has scheduled a special meeting in December 2024 to consider adjustments to 2025 management measures aimed at increasing the likelihood of population recovery by 2029. Possible management measures discussed at the meeting included seasonal no-harvest closures for recreational fishermen and no-targeting closures to reduce catch-and-release mortality.