The Virginian-Pilot
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Thousands of dead striped bass off the Dare County coast could be signs of illegal fishing, according to U.S. Coast Guard officials.
Fishermen frequently pursue the striped bass population beyond the authorized state waters three mile offshore, according to a release from the U.S. Coast Guard 5th District.
Atlantic striped bass may not be caught, harvested or possessed in a zone between three and 200 nautical miles from shore. A person caught fishing for striped bass outside of three nautical miles is subject to fines starting at $100 per fish, according to the release.
Reports of thousands of dead striped bass floating in the ocean began circulating Saturday around Dare County. Photos of dead fish were electronically circulated, prompting Division of Marine Fisheries and the Coast Guard to investigate.
Witnesses of illegal commercial, charter or recreational fishing should report it to the Atlantic striped bass hotline at 757-398-6598, contact the Coast Guard on VHF channel 16 or to call the National Marine Fisheries Service’s hotline at 800-853-1964.
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lazy article
The paper apparently made little or no effort to investigate this. This week, NC opened a 5 day trawler season for rockfish. Trawlers may legally catch and retain 50 fish. No one can fish for striped bass more than 3 miles from shore. Several fishermen reported, and took photos to show, that they were fishing well within 3 miles when trawlers came through, caught and kept their 50, and discarded to die the hundreds of others trapped in their nets. Photos show hundreds of dead fish as the trawler steams past. Legal? Yes. Immoral? I think so.
Rec fishermen do cheat by fishing over the 3 mile line, and have been known to toss fish over to avoid being caught. Also wrong, but this kill occurred as trawlers went by well within 3 miles.
Fishing off Dare County
It is apparent to me that the author of the article and some of those commenting have little or no knowledge of Commercial fishing.
For one thing fish finding devices do not label one fish from another. Second they are fishing according to regulations set forth: MANDATING that any fish whether injured dead or otherwise over a certain number must be returned to the waters. WHAT A WASTE. Just another example of government over regulation lack of judgment and common sense. Set something other than a limit of five fish. That in itself is stupid as the nets catch more than five fish.
read the article
did the article say anything about these fish dying because of a trawler? NO, that is because they don't know who or what is causing these fish to die. so don't blame an industry and probably most of them are abiding by the law.
Fish Kill
These trawlers are fishing legally. They allowed fifty fish,so they choose the best fifty and dispose of the rest.
BULL!
I`m weighing here because I was out the Sunday and I have run charter and private boats for 27yrs!!!! The trawlers were fishing LEGALLY!!!! They were following the law to the fullest extent that the state of NC dictated!!! It is NOT thier fault for following the law!!! Most of the posts that read are 100% wrong and you do not know the subject in which you speak! There is a much better way to do this and more than likely many ways better than what was done this yr! Fact is the US Coast Guard doesn`t know squat if this article is quoting them directly. I would bet that many of the people complaining on here fish over the 3 mile line! The next that you go to a restaurant and order seafood..consider yourself a hypocrit!
Agree
I agree the trawlers were following the law and harbor no ill will to them. But the law should be changed to one (live Virginia) where the legal catch is defined by total poundage. Open the fishery until the poundage is reached - then close it. Doing it the way NC does not only permits, but encourages (legally) commercial fishermen to catch 1000 fish, select the biggest 50, then toss...to die...the rest. Even the commercial guys would admit to you that such a system is incredibly wasterful....remember, they want the species to thrive, too, as it is money to them.
Balance
And here's an article a bit more balanced.
http://outerbanksvoice.com/2011/01/17/fish-kills-put-a-spotlight-on-battle-over-rules/
Whiners
Commercial fishermen are the biggest whiners in the world and don't care what they kill or how much just as long as they can make a nickel. Killing thousands of stripers for the hell of it, they know how many they are allowed to keep.
And just what have they done
And just what have they done that's illegal?These fish were caught in legal waters,using legal methods approved by DMF.
This is the result of resource mismanagement at it's finest.The majority of these fish were dead when they hit the deck of the trawler,due to being suffocated from the weight of the net.Regulation required these fish be thrown back dead in the name of conservation.
They need to set a poundage quota,fill it and kill it.Problem solved!Any overage can be deducted from next years quota.It's ridiculous!
Do what they do for drugs. .
Impound their boats. Anyone illegally catching any fish losers their boat. These mental midgets may think then.