December 2, 2014 — Citing a decline in stocks, the state Division of Marine Fisheries has reduced catch limits for striped bass in the Atlantic Ocean and Albemarle Sound/Roanoke River areas for the latest season.
The new limits affect commercial and recreational fishing.
A statement from the agency cited 2013 surveys showing that “fishing mortality in 2012 was above the target, and female spawning stock biomass has been steadily declining below the target level since the mid-2000s.”
“Spawning stock biomass is approaching its overfished threshold, and stock projections show spawning stock biomass will likely fall below the threshold in the coming years. In addition, a similar decline has been observed in total harvest for both stocks.”
Read the full story at the Outer Banks Voice