What's happening to striped bass, part II

Don Villani of East Greenwich, RI caught this striped bass north off Conimicut Point, Warwick on No Fluke Charters last spring. Fish like this were in lower numbers this year signally a striper decline for many in Narragansett Bay and along coastal RI shores.

Striped bass are a valued species, both for sport fishing and food. Striped bass are as highly managed today as they were in the past. They were the subject of our first conservation laws… in 1639 Massachusetts forbade the use of the fish for fertilizer, in the 1660’s they were the focus of our first environmental impact statement and passage of the Natural Environmental Policy Act.

According to a Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association (RISAA) study, recreational fishing has a $160,000,000 annual economic impact on Rhode Island. There are more recreational striped bass fishing trips in Rhode Island than any other species (my personal observation). So striped bass play an important role in Rhode Island’s recreational fishery and economy.

Last week this column reported on striper decline. Anglers, fishing captains (particularly those fishing Narragansett Bay and coastal Rhode Island shores), said the striped bass fishery is on a terrible decline. Many say their catch is down by 30 to 40%, yet scientists, fishery managers and some captains say the fishery may be down but by no means is it crashing. Other captains say they caught more fish than ever before off Block Island and have seen large numbers in Federal waters where they cannot fish for them legally. And, offshore lobsterman say striped bass have been more abundant in traps than ever before (they are considered a nuisance because they eat valuable lobster bait in traps).

Last week and this week, I asked striped bass experts, “Are striped bass in decline?” and what do you think about the recent NPR story on striped bass. Here’s what they had to say.

New information sheds light on striper decline

Christopher Joyce did an NPR story on striper decline highlighting the work of Bob Wood, biologist for the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Wood’s research focuses not so much on the fish but on the weather. He believes the weather pattern in the North Atlantic called the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO) is responsible for the wide swings in striper populations.

Wood explains, “… if you warm the entire North Atlantic basin, you’re changing the weather because the air and circulation patterns above the ocean are affected.” Ed Martino, a fisheries scientist at NOAA, said, “You are talking about a difference in temperature and precipitation, and therefore river flow or salinity, ultimately all affecting the base of the food chain… It’s the way that the climate affects the microscopic plankton.” Plankton are the tiny plants and animals in water, and that’s what spring striped bass eat.

Reporter Joyce relates that when it’s in a warm phase, springtime along the East Coast tends to be wet and cool with more rain, more water and more food. In the years following that phase striper numbers tend to go up. Then the AMO flips, drier springs bring less rain, less food and after a lag, it looks like striper numbers start to decline. Records for the past 100 years of fishing show this trend.

Striped bass have not been as plentiful for the past four years. Wood said, “and it just so happens this is also the time when the AMO seems to be in a switching phase”. This switch is bad for stripers so the decline now and the one in the 1980’s could be attributed to these down cycles.

I think this study is a breakthrough for fishery managers in the way they look at what is impacting data. They should consider what role (if any) AMO or weather patterns play in the growth or decline of fish populations. Also it begs the question as to how they should evaluate and implement the learnings of such research and data in the future.

Dr. Chris Anderson is chairman of the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management’s (DEM) Marine Fisheries Advisory Panel on striped bass. Dr. Anderson said, “More shifts like this (in bass populations) can be expected with climate change. So it would be to our advantage (as managers) to work on ways to handle such changes.” This is new information in the equation. So in the future if we want to use climate change to help manage, the question will be how should the base line stock level change due to climate?”

Captain Rick Bellavance, president of the Rhode Island Party and Charter Boat Association (RIPCBA), said, “I am certain climate change is having an effect on all the creatures that live in our oceans... I think it a little too premature to insinuate that a stock is in decline due to climate change; maybe the stock has just moved or behaves differently. Or maybe a decline is occurring. I will agree that we need more studies and time to determine what affects are truly occurring…”

Mark Gibson, of DEM’s Marine Fisheries Department, is the author or a “Striped Bass Commercial Quota Increase Issue Paper” published in November, 2010. The paper, which can be found at www.dem.ri.gov, relates that science shows, “Recent recruitment of young fish (striped bass) has declined but the stock remains well above it’s rebuilding target.” In regard to the NPR story Gibson said, “The AMO is a fashionable new idea. I looked at it and found that the correlation with young fish production is marginal and that changes in spawner biomass explain more of the dynamics than does the AMO. “

Captain Rich Hittinger, vice present of the RISAA said, “I definitely see a decline over the last few years, so I think it (striper decline) is real. The science always takes so long to finish that once the stock status is finalized and published we are looking at data that is three years old… Basically, I think the cause (of striper decline) is still unknown…”

The question of whether or not striped bass are in decline will be covered in future columns.

West Bay Anglers to hold Striped Bass Seminars

The West Bay Anglers will hold a series of striped bass seminars by Charley Sores Tuesday, March 22, 2011, 6:30 p.m. at the Sherman Elementary School, Warwick, RI. Topics to include fishing with a variety of live baits (part one of the seminar) as well as how to locate and catch stripers between boulders (part two). Reserve tickets ($10) at 401.463.7532.

Striper University

Shallow Water Striper University is March 25, 26, and 27 at the Sheraton Airport Motor Inn, Warwick, RI. This weekend long event features some of the best local professionals who make their living catching big striped bass. Registration for this event is $89. for the entire weekend. There will also be charter trips give-a-ways, raffles, prizes, and more. Contact Debbie Wood at Wood Boat & Motor, 401-739-4040 or visit www.shallowwaterstripers.com .

State Senate Task Force on Fisheries

The State Senate Task Force on Fisheries chaired by Senator Susan Sosnowski met last week to hear presentations on the marketing of Rhode Island fish. Over seven individuals from DEM, the RI Department of Economic Development as well as fish industry experts with knowledge on how to bring fresh fish to market made presentations. More on this in the future.