Striped Bass

Morone saxatilis

Sometimes known as Atlantic Striped bass, Bass, Cow (large female), Rock, Rockfish, Striped sea-bass or Striper.

This species is wild-caught.

Summary

Striped bass populations reached severe lows in the 1980s, but strong management has helped them rebound. Striped bass fisheries utilize a range of gears, many of which have minimal impacts on habitat such as hook and line gear and midwater gillnets. There is work underway to assess bycatch.

These fish contain levels of mercury or PCBs that may pose a health risk to adults and children. Please refer to www.EnvironmentalDefense.org/seafood for more details.

Criterion	Points
Life History	1.50
Abundance	3.25
Habitat Quality and Fishing Gear Impacts	4.00
Management	3.75
Bycatch	2.25
Final Score (average of criteria)	2.95
Color

Final Score	Color
2.60 - 4.00
2.20 - 2.59
1.80 - 2.19
1.40 - 1.79
0.00 - 1.39

Last updated October 23, 2005.

Life History

Core Points (only one selection allowed)

If a value for intrinsic rate of increase (‘r’) is known, assign the score below based on this value. If no r-value is available, assign the score below for the correct age at 50% maturity for females if specified, or for the correct value of growth rate ('k'). If no estimates of r, age at 50% maturity, or k are available, assign the score below based on maximum age.

1.00	Intrinsic rate of increase <0.05; OR age at 50% maturity >10 years; OR growth rate <0.15; OR maximum age >30 years.
2.00	Intrinsic rate of increase = 0.05-0.15; OR age at 50% maturity = 5-10 years; OR a growth rate = 0.16–0.30; OR maximum age = 11-30 years. Intrinsic rate of increase is unknown. Age at 50% maturity is 6 for females (25-26 inches or 3.3 pounds). Some males are found on spawning grounds at age 2, indicating that sexual maturity may begin at this age. By age 3, 100% of males are mature (18 inches or 3-4 pounds) (Gamble, personal communication, 1/13/04). Growth rate is k = 0.12 (Fishbase 12/23/03). Maximum age is 30 Years (Fishbase 2003)
3.00	Intrinsic rate of increase >0.16; OR age at 50% maturity = 1-5 years; OR growth rate >0.30; OR maximum age <11 years.

Points of Adjustment (multiple selections allowed)

-0.25	Species has special behaviors that make it especially vulnerable to fishing pressure (e.g., spawning aggregations; site fidelity; segregation by sex; migratory bottlenecks; unusual attraction to gear; etc.). Striped bass remain in nursery areas for two to four years as they develop into juvenile fish, making healthy nursery habitat very important (ASMFC 2000b). Striped bass also aggregate in winter (Safina, personal communication 2001).
-0.25	Species has a strategy for sexual development that makes it especially vulnerable to fishing pressure (e.g., age at 50% maturity >20 years; sequential hermaphrodites; extremely low fecundity).
-0.25	Species has a small or restricted range (e.g., endemism; numerous evolutionarily significant units; restricted to one coastline; e.g., American lobster; striped bass; endemic reef fishes). Wild Atlantic Striped bass are found in the western Atlantic from the St. Lawrence River in Canada to the St. John’s River in northern Florida and the Gulf of Mexico. Relative to species widely distributed throughout the world's oceans, we consider this to be a small range.
-0.25	Species exhibits high natural population variability driven by broad–scale environmental change (e.g., El Nino; decadal oscillations).

+0.25	Species does not have special behaviors that increase ease or population consequences of capture OR has special behaviors that make it less vulnerable to fishing pressure (e.g., species is widely dispersed during spawning).
+0.25	Species has a strategy for sexual development that makes it especially resilient to fishing pressure (e.g., age at 50% maturity <1 year; extremely high fecundity).
+0.25	Species is distributed over a very wide range (e.g., throughout an entire hemisphere or ocean basin; e.g., swordfish; tuna; Patagonian toothfish).
+0.25	Species does not exhibit high natural population variability driven by broad-scale environmental change (e.g., El Nino; decadal oscillations).

1.50	Points for Life History

Abundance

Core Points (only one selection allowed)

Compared to natural or un-fished level, the species population is:

1.00

Low: Abundance or biomass is <75% of BMSY or similar proxy (e.g., spawning potential ratio).

2.00

Medium: Abundance or biomass is 75–125% of BMSY or similar proxy; OR population is approaching or recovering from an overfished condition; OR adequate information on abundance or biomass is not available.

3.00

High: Abundance or biomass is >125% of BMSY or similar proxy.

The Striped Bass Technical Committee of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) considers the population abundance to be high (Gamble, personal communication, 1/12/04). Striped bass abundance has been increasing steadily since 1982. It reached around 45 million fish by 1996 and remained at this general level with some inter-annual variation until 2002. Population abundance peaked in 2002 at 52 million fish, but declined to about 44 million fish in 2003 due to a poor 2002 year class. Recruitment of the 2002 year class was estimated to be 3.6 million fish compared to the average of 7.3 million fish for 1982-2002. The 2001 year class was estimated at 16.9 million fish (age 2), which exceeds the size of the strong 1993 year class. The 1993 year class remains the most abundant among the exploited cohorts for the time series. The female spawning stock biomass (SSB) has been growing steadily since 1982 and stabilized at about 20 thousand metric tons by 1999-2001. Female SSB remained at a very high level, estimated at 22.3 thousand mt in 2002, assuming a 1:1 male-female ratio. In 2002, the Striped bass management program was operating under Addendum V to Amendment 5, which does not have a biomass target or threshold. However, Amendment 6 (in effect January 2004) has set threshold and target levels for SSB. Female SSB far exceeds the threshold (~14 thousand mt) and target (17.5 thousand mt) SSB set in Amendment 6.

(FMP Review 2003)

Points of Adjustment (multiple selections allowed)

-0.25	The population is declining over a generational time scale (as indicated by biomass estimates or standardized CPUE).
-0.25	Age, size or sex distribution is skewed relative to the natural condition (e.g., truncated size/age structure or anomalous sex distribution). Although the ASMFC believes that the age distribution is sufficient to sustain long-term recruitment and population abundance (Gamble pers. comm. 2003), recreational fisherman continue to voice complaint about the lack of older fish in the population (Beal, pers. comm. 2001; Gamble, pers. comm. 2004). Although Striped bass can live up to 30 years, in 2001 62% of the total Striped bass catch were ages 4 to 7, and 24% were over age 8. The modal age was 5, consistent with 2000. The 1993-1997 year classes dominated, accounting for 12-18% of total catch. Although the proportion of 8 and older fish in the catch dropped to 15% in 2000 from 21% in 1999, it rose to a series high of 24% in 2001 (ASMFC SBTC 2003). From the conservation standpoint, the age distribution is the only indicator of a problem with the fishery. However, the 2002 stock assessment determined that adult population size (ages 8-13) during 2001-2003 was at its highest in the last two decades (NMFS 2003), indicating that age distribution is improving.
-0.25	Species is listed as “overfished” OR species is listed as “depleted”, “endangered”, or “threatened” by recognized national or international bodies.
-0.25	Current levels of abundance are likely to jeopardize the availability of food for other species or cause substantial change in the structure of the associated food web.

+0.25	The population is increasing over a generational time scale (as indicated by biomass estimates or standardized CPUE). Population has increased significantly compared to the 1980s, when abundance was very low. The estimate of total abundance for January 1, 2002 was a series high at 59.6 million age-1 and older fish. This estimate is 7 million greater than the average population size for the previous five years and 13% greater than the 2001 abundance (ASMFC SBTC 2003). In 2003, population size decreased to about 44 million fish due to a poor recruit class (FMP Review 2003). However, we still consider the overall trend to represent an increase in abundance.
+0.25	Age, size or sex distribution is functionally normal.
+0.25	Species is close to virgin biomass.
+0.25	Current levels of abundance provide adequate food for other predators or are not known to affect the structure of the associated food web.

3.25	Points for Abundance

Habitat Quality and Fishing Gear Impacts

Core Points (only one selection allowed)

Select the option that most accurately describes the effect of the fishing method upon the habitat that it affects.

1.00	The fishing method causes great damage to physical and biogenic habitats (e.g., cyanide; blasting; bottom trawling; dredging).
2.00	The fishing method does moderate damage to physical and biogenic habitats (e.g., bottom gillnets; traps and pots; bottom longlines).
3.00	The fishing method does little damage to physical or biogenic habitats (e.g., hand picking; hand raking; hook and line; pelagic long lines; mid-water trawl or gillnet; purse seines). In the commercial fishery, Striped bass are caught with traps, hook and line, both bottom and midwater gillnets, pound nets, haul seines and trawls (ASMFC 2000a; Gamble, pers. comm. 2004). Recreational fishers use hook and line gear (Beal, personal communication 2001). Most of the gear types used in this fishery are low impact.

Points of Adjustment (multiple selections allowed)

-0.25	Habitat for this species is so compromised from non-fishery impacts that the ability of the habitat to support this species is substantially reduced (e.g., dams; pollution; coastal development).
-0.25	Critical habitat areas (e.g., spawning areas) for this species are not protected by management using time/area closures, marine reserves, etc.
-0.25	No efforts are being made to minimize damage from existing gear types OR new or modified gear is increasing habitat damage (e.g., fitting trawls with roller rigs or rockhopping gear; more robust gear for deep-sea fisheries).
-0.25	If gear impacts are substantial, resilience of affected habitats is very slow (e.g., deep water corals; rocky bottoms).

+0.25	Habitat for this species remains robust and viable and is capable of supporting this species. As the Striped bass population is now abundant, it is reasonable to assume that the habitat is capable of supporting the species.
+0.25	Critical habitat areas (e.g., spawning areas) for this species are protected by management using time/area closures, marine reserves, etc. Essential Fish Habitat assessments are not required for state managed fisheries in the United States. However, many states do assess habitat, and some states, such as New York, Maryland and New Jersey have implemented spawning closures as well as closures for nursery areas for specific months of the year (Gamble, pers. comm. 2004).
+0.25	Gear innovations are being implemented over a majority of the fishing area to minimize damage from gear types OR no innovations necessary because gear effects are minimal. Gear effects on habitat are minimal.
+0.25	If gear impacts are substantial, resilience of affected habitats is fast (e.g., mud or sandy bottoms) OR gear effects are minimal. Gear effects on habitat are minimal.

4.00	Points for Habitat Quality and Fishing Gear Impacts

Management

Core Points (only one selection allowed)

Select the option that most accurately describes the current management of the fisheries of this species.

1.00	Regulations are ineffective (e.g., illegal fishing or overfishing is occurring) OR the fishery is unregulated (i.e., no control rules are in effect).
2.00	Management measures are in place over a major portion over the species’ range but implementation has not met conservation goals OR management measures are in place but have not been in place long enough to determine if they are likely to achieve conservation and sustainability goals.
3.00	Substantial management measures are in place over a large portion of the species range and have demonstrated success in achieving conservation and sustainability goals. The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) manages Atlantic Striped bass from Maine to North Carolina. All Atlantic coastal states with fisheries for striped bass must comply with the minimum standards established in the interstate Fishery Management Plan (FMP). States must report to the ASMFC annually on their compliance with requirements for fishery independent and dependent monitoring. In an effort to recover Striped bass populations following the declines in the 1980s, states employed very restrictive management. Some states even put a complete moratorium on the fishery for several years. Once the fishery was re-opened, minimum size restrictions were used to protect several strong year classes. Other management measures include quotas and limited entry, as well as some controls which are volunteered by the state management, such as only allowing hook and line gear in Massachussets. These measures have helped Striped bass recover (Beal, personal communication 2001).

Points of Adjustment (multiple selections allowed)

-0.25	There is inadequate scientific monitoring of stock status, catch or fishing effort.
-0.25	Management does not explicitly address fishery effects on habitat, food webs, and ecosystems.
-0.25	This species is overfished and no recovery plan or an ineffective recovery plan is in place.
-0.25	Management has failed to reduce excess capacity in this fishery or implements subsidies that result in excess capacity in this fishery.

+0.25	There is adequate scientific monitoring, analysis and interpretation of stock status, catch and fishing effort. Amendment 6 to the Striped Bass FMP includes required monitoring and data collection programs for commercial and recreational fisheries (ASMFC FMP 2003). Some states require tags to be put on all fish prior to sale, as a means of monitoring catch. States with significant recreational fisheries must follow guidelines for collecting catch and catch/effort information. The Marine Recreational Fisheries Statistical Survey (MRFSS) monitors recreational catch (Beal, personal communication 2001). Amendment 6 encourages all state fishery management agencies to pursue full implementation of the Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program (ACCSP) across all fisheries, which will meet the monitoring and reporting requirements of this Amendment. All states have submitted their proposals for compliance with Amendment 6, and their monitoring plans have been approved by the council (Gamble, personal communication, 2/3/2004). The latest stock assessment was performed in 2003. Some states must monitor populations using fishery-independent data. Data collection methods include assessing juvenile abundance indices and sampling spawning populations. State and federal agencies tag Striped bass to determine survivorship and migration patterns (ASMFC 2000). The fishery independent data is used for the annual stock assessment to determine annual population status (Gamble, personal communication, 1/13/2004).
+0.25	Management explicitly and effectively addresses fishery effects on habitat, food webs, and ecosystems.
+0.25	This species is overfished and there is a recovery plan (including benchmarks, timetables and methods to evaluate success) in place that is showing signs of success OR recovery plan is not needed. The Striped Bass recovery plan has been successful in rebuilding the population (FMP Review 2003). The fishery is no longer considered overfished and overfishing is not occurring.
+0.25	Management has taken action to control excess capacity or reduce subsidies that result in excess capacity OR no measures are necessary because fishery is not overcapitalized. No measures are necessary, as the fishery is not considered overcapitalized.

3.75	Points for Management

Bycatch

Core Points (only one selection allowed)

Select the option that most accurately describes the current level of bycatch and the consequences that result from fishing this species.

The term, "bycatch” used in this document excludes incidental catch of a species for which an adequate management framework exists.

The terms, “endangered, threatened, or protected,” used in this document refer to species status that is determined by national legislation such as the U.S. Endangered Species Act, the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act (or another nation's equivalent), the IUCN Red List, or a credible scientific body such as the American Fisheries Society.

1.00	Bycatch in this fishery is high (>100% of targeted landings), OR regularly includes a “threatened, endangered or protected species.”
2.00	Bycatch in this fishery is moderate (10-99% of targeted landings) AND does not regularly include “threatened, endangered or protected species” OR level of bycatch is unknown. The overall level of bycatch in Striped bass fisheries is unknown. Discard losses of Striped bass were estimated to be 34.1% of the total catch in 2002, compared to 31.9% in 2001 (FMP Review 2003). Bycatch in the commercial and recreational Striped bass fishery includes unwanted, illegal, or unmarketable Striped bass (i.e. undersize fish). "Unmarketable Striped bass" includes fish that die after release by anglers (ASMFC 2001). Greater than 50% of the bycatch from Striped bass fisheries are age 2 and age 3 Striped bass (Beal, personal communication 2001).
3.00	Bycatch in this fishery is low (<10% of targeted landings) and does not regularly include "threatened, endangered or protected species."

Points of Adjustment (multiple selections allowed)

-0.25	Bycatch in this fishery is a contributing factor to the decline of “threatened, endangered, or protected species" and no effective measures are being taken to reduce it.
-0.25	Bycatch of targeted or non-targeted species (e.g., undersize individuals) in this fishery is high and no measures are being taken to reduce it.
-0.25	Bycatch of this species (e.g., undersize individuals) in other fisheries is high OR bycatch of this species in other fisheries inhibits its recovery, and no measures are being taken to reduce it.
-0.25	The continued removal of the bycatch species contributes to its decline.

+0.25	Measures taken over a major portion of the species range have been shown to reduce bycatch of “threatened, endangered, or protected species” or bycatch rates are no longer deemed to affect the abundance of the “protected” bycatch species OR no measures needed because fishery is highly selective (e.g., harpoon; spear).
+0.25	There is bycatch of targeted (e.g., undersize individuals) or non-targeted species in this fishery and measures (e.g., gear modifications) have been implemented that have been shown to reduce bycatch over a large portion of the species range OR no measures are needed because fishery is highly selective (e.g., harpoon; spear).
+0.25	Bycatch of this species in other fisheries is low OR bycatch of this species in other fisheries inhibits its recovery, but effective measures are being taken to reduce it over a large portion of the range.
+0.25	The continued removal of the bycatch species in the targeted fishery has had or will likely have little or no impact on populations of the bycatch species OR there are no significant bycatch concerns because the fishery is highly selective (e.g., harpoon; spear). Striped bass abundance remains high despite some continued removal of unwanted, illegal, or unmarketable fish (ASMFC 2001; FMP Review 2003). Thus, the current level of Striped bass discards is not believed to be highly problematic.

2.25	Points for Bycatch

References

Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commision. 2003

Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission Striped Bass Technical Committee. 2003 Atlantic Striped Bass Advisory Report. Report #2003-03.

Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission Striped Bass Technical Committee. 2001 Atlantic Striped Bass Advisory Report. State of the Stock.

Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. 2000a. 2000 Review of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Striped Bass.

Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. 2000b Striped Bass. Online at http://asmfc.org/Programs/Fish%20Mgnt/STRBASS6.html

Beal, Robert. Personal Communication, 2001. Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission

Fishbase,23 December 2003. Online at http://www.Fishbase.org.

Gamble, Megan. Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. Personal Communication. 7 November 2003.

Review of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Striped Bass. 2003.

Safina, Carl. Personal Communication. 11/2001