Striped Bass

Striped bass, a vital species for ecosystems and economies along the East Coast, face a critical decline that cannot be ignored. These fish support a billion-dollar seafood and recreational fishing industry and are a keystone species in our coastal ecosystems. Yet, their numbers are plummeting, putting both the fish and those who rely on them at risk. For the last six years, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Young of the Year Report has indicated a poor spawn and reproduction rate for the species, indicating a decline in their population. It would seem obvious in the sixth consecutive year of poor fish spawn that resource managers would make drastic changes regarding regulations to try to save the fishery, however, the Striped Bass fishery and the larger water quality issue are highly contentious issues. The battle between the economic good of today and the long-term good of the fishery is at odds among watermen and conservationists.

Each year Maryland DNR conducts a survey in different areas around the Chesapeake that monitors juvenile Striped Bass populations. The survey indicates the success of the spawn from that year and can give insight to fisheries management on the future of Striped Bass populations.

For the last six years, the Young of the Year survey has shown poor results. The Index represents an average count of juvenile fish caught per sample across survey sites. The higher the index, the greater the abundance of young fish, showing a successful spawning season. This number is then compared to a long-term average. The long-term average is 11.0. The average for the last 6 years? A paltry 2.6. These trends signal a troubling decline that requires immediate intervention.

Striped Bass migrate up and down the East Coast with the seasons, but their journey usually starts in the headwaters and upper tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay. For a successful Striped Bass spawn, several environmental factors need to align. Temperatures of 60-70°F trigger reproduction, but warmer winters have caused water to reach these temperatures too early in the season, leading to fluctuations that harm the eggs. Similarly, low salinity is crucial for egg development, but drier winters raise salinity levels, further reducing egg survival.

Once the eggs hatch and become larvae, they feed on smaller zooplankton such as Copepods. Cold winters and wet springs enhance copepod populations that act as a food source for striped bass larvae. A high Copepod population is critical to the early growth and survival of the larvae.

If we manage to have a good spawn year, there needs to be good water quality for the young fish to develop. High levels of nutrients can lead to algae blooms that deplete oxygen levels and kill fish. Heavy loads of sediment can bury spawning habitats and impact the turbidity of the water, decreasing the food source. High levels of contaminants and toxins have profound effects on the survival rate of fish.

As humans, we have no direct control over rainfall or temperature in any given season. We do have control over all the other factors. Nutrient and sediment runoff are impacted by human interactions and can be limited by implementing rules and regulations in states like Pennsylvania that have very few laws concerning environmentally friendly agricultural practices. By improving the water quality, we decrease the mortality rate of Striped Bass and other species like Blue Crabs and Oysters. 

Possibly the greatest impact on the decline of Striped Bass is the invasive Blue Catfish. This invasive predator has taken over the Chesapeake Bay in the past few years. It is now estimated that the invasive Blue Catfish inhabits approximately 75% of the Chesapeake's biomass. They pose a huge threat to the striped bass fishery because they will eat anything that fits in their mouth. And lots of it. Native species like the striped bass are a tasty meal for the catfish. Implementing incentive programs to catch and kill invasive species like the Blue Catfish, and making it easier for restaurants to get tasty invasive species on the menu can help fishing industries and benefit the conservation of the fishery. 

In the fall of 2023, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) changed the regulations on Striped Bass. The committee reduced the slot limit, allowing recreational anglers to keep only one fish measuring between 19 and 24 inches, and reduced the commercial charter boat limit to one fish per paying customer. The new regulations reduced the harvest by 15.9 percent, however, it is not enough to ensure a healthy fishery in the future. With ultra-low reproduction levels, the fishery needs all the healthy spawning-age fish it can get. A greater catch reduction is necessary for a healthy fishery in the future.

Asking a fishery to make catch regulations is a difficult position because both the recreational fishery and the commercial fishery see an economic loss from a catch reduction. Tackle shops, charter boats, and the commercial fish market are negatively impacted with a reduction or closure of the fishery. However, if we continue on our current path, we threaten to permanently lose these fish and dismantle the industries that rely on them. The recreational fishing economy and commercial fishermen both rely on a healthy striped bass population. Without conservation measures, both industries risk long-term losses.

We need a change now. To save the Striped Bass, we need to enact stricter harvest limits and support regulations on pollution control in states along the Chesapeake watershed. This is a “big picture” issue that must weigh the risk of economic hardship today against the long term destruction of an entire fishery. The bigger question we should be asking is how can we support the fishing industry in the short term in order to conserve the legacy of watermen in the long term. Invasive fishing incentive programs, and bay to table restaurant programs help to remove invasive species and offer a solution to the immediate economic loss. Conservation and economic livelihood should not be mutually exclusive.

A Striped bass with several legions and open sores, a mark of poor waterquality and stress

Ronan Keohan Holds up a recreationally caught Striped Bass