A 36-inch rockfish, also known as a striped bass, is readied to be put back into the Chesapeake Bay after being caught off Chesapeake Beach, Md. (Chris Gardner/Associated Press)
The fishing season for large rockfish in tributaries of the Potomac River, along the Atlantic coastline and parts of the Chesapeake Bay is canceled in Virginia this year out of concern for the fish’s dwindling population.
The Virginia Marine Resources Commission on Tuesday voted 7-0 on an emergency proposal to cancel the recreational season of catching trophy-size rockfish. Rockfish, also called striped bass, have been below sustainable levels for six years and have been overfished since 2010, according to experts at the commission.
“Virginia has always been a conservation leader, and this is a time to step up,” Commissioner Steven G. Bowman said in a statement. He said the cancellation was needed to slow the decline of the rockfish population and “restore this fishery to sustainable levels.”
Read the rest from the Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/vi ... a9fbe32be1
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