- Recently, the successful hatching and maturation of juvenile striped bass in the Chesapeake Bay and the Hudson River has been “abysmal."
- The decline of striped bass reproduction may be due to a phenomenon called “phenological mismatch.”
- The bass might be affected by fewer numbers of menhaden, one of their main prey, at their spawning sites
New England fall is one of the best timesto catch bassin Massachusetts as they look to fatten up before the long winter. But researchersare warningthatstriped bassare in trouble.
Striped bass have faced challenges before: in the 1980s, the striped bass population was nearly eliminated due to overfishing. And in 2023, Massachusetts again placedemergency catch limitson the fish after too many of the fish were caught the year before.
Now, scientists are warning that successful striped bass spawning, or reproduction, has been very low.
How do striped bass reproduce?
Most striped bass in Massachusetts come from the Chesapeake Bay, the Delaware River and the Hudson River. While they spend much of their adult lives in salt water, they return to these areas to spawn each spring.
Male striped bass usually begin spawning around two or three years of age, while female striped bass begin when they are about five or six years old.
The number of eggs females produce is directly related to the size of its body: the bigger the fish, the more eggs it produces.
Striped bass spawning “abysmal”
Recently, the successful hatching and maturation of juvenile striped bass in the Chesapeake Bay and the Hudson River has been “abysmal,” John Waldman, an aquatic conservation biologist at the City University of New York, told Yale Environment 360, an online magazine focused on global environmental issues, in January.
According to the article, the decline of striped bass reproduction may be due to a phenomenon called “phenological mismatch,” or the seasonal timing of life cycle events. It's howhummingbirds know to migrate when food sources begin to die down at the end of summer, or when bees emerge from their hives right as flowers bloom in the spring.
It's not totally clear what's causing the failure of striped bass to spawn. But it might be in response to fewer numbers of menhaden, one of their main prey, at their spawning sites, experts told Yale Environment 360. Both species may also be being affected by warming waters.
Will there be new regulations on striped bass fishing?
The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) has been managing and conserving stripe bass populations in 15 Atlantic coast states since 1981.
Under the ASMFC, the Atlantic coastal states of Maine through Virginia are currently looking at ona new measureto supportrebuilding striped bass stockby 2029.
Thedraft addendumincludes size limit regulations, additional rules for commercial tagging programs, changes to Maryland’s recreational season and a possible 12% harvest reduction to the fishery.
Connecticut will hold a public hearing on Sept. 15.
