DNR Calls For Public Comment On Draft Indicators And Guidelines For Striped Bass Fishery Certification
Maryland striped bass would be first East Coast fishery to receive certification2/6/06 - ANNAPOLIS — The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is asking for public comment on draft performance indicators and scoring guidelines developed for the certification of Maryland’s commercial striped bass fishery by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC).
The draft performance indicators and scoring guidelines are available on the internet. Public comments must be provided in written or oral form to Steve Devitt by February 28, 2006.
MSC is an international non-profit organization that works to protect the world’s marine fisheries and associated ecological components. MSC promotes certified sustainable fisheries in the marketplace through the MSC sustainable fisheries eco-label.
There are currently 13 MSC certified fisheries worldwide and another 19 are in the process of being assessed. Several dozen more are under review to see if they warrant a full assessment. The Maryland striped bass would be the first East Coast fishery to receive MSC certification.
MSC’s Principles and Criteria for Sustainable Fishing require fishing operations to allow for the maintenance of ecosystem health, require that the fishery must not lead to over fishing and that the fishery is subject to an effective and responsible management system.
In cooperation with the other Atlantic coastal states, the migratory striped bass population was brought back from a depleted status to a healthy stock. The coastal commercial catch in 2002 increased to 10 million pounds from lows of less than one million pounds in the early 1980s. The states’ cooperative system of adjusting quotas based on stock condition, limited entry into the fishery, timely reporting of harvest and tagging of all stripers harvested in the fishery have contributed to its successful management. Protection of adult and juvenile habitat and spawning grounds is also a feature of cooperative management.
The Chesapeake Bay is the largest striped bass spawning ground on the East Coast and Maryland has been in the forefront of managing its fishery and protecting habitat. Maryland’s 2003 commercial fishery landed 1.8 million pounds of striped bass from the Chesapeake and Atlantic.
The certification assessment is being conducted by, TAVEL Certification Inc., an independent certification body. As required by the MSC fisheries certification methodology, the assessment team has prepared draft performance indicators and scoring guidelines that are used to assess the fishery and its science and management against the MSC Principles and Criteria for Sustainable Fishing.
TAVEL Certification Inc. is currently seeking public stakeholder comment on the Draft Performance Indicators and Scoring Guidelines. Comments must be provided in written or oral form to Steve Devitt by February 28, 2006.
Contact information is as follows:
Steve Devitt
Operations Manager
TAVEL Certification Inc.
701 - 2000 Barrington St.
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
B3J 3K1
Phone (902) 422-4511
Fax (902) 422-9780
Email: sdevitt@tavelcertify.com
Web: www.tavelcertify.com
Information on the Maryland striped bass fishery certification assessment: http://www.msc.org/html/content_1196.htm
Guidance on the draft performance indicators and scoring guidelines: http://www.msc.org/assets/docs/Maryland_Striped_Bass/
Md_SBass_PI&SG_Guide.pdf
The performance indicators and scoring guidelines: http://www.msc.org/assets/docs/Maryland_Striped_Bass/
Md_SBass_PI&SGs.pdf.
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