2022 Commercial Striped Bass Fishery Closed
DMF projects Massachusetts’ 2022 commercial striped bass quota of 735,240 pounds was taken during the last open fishing day on Wednesday, August 3, 2022. Accordingly, the Massachusetts 2022 commercial striped bass fishery will close effective immediately (Closure Notice). Unless otherwise notified, the commercial striped bass fishery will remain closed through Sunday, June 18, 2023. During this closed period, it is unlawful for fishermen to retain, possess, or land striped bass for commercial purposes or in a manner that does not comply with the state’s recreational fishing regulations for the species.
For seafood dealers, during this closed period it is unlawful to purchase or receive striped bass from fishermen. Dealers may continue to possess striped bass, obtain striped bass from dealers, import striped bass from dealers operating in another state, and sell lawfully possessed striped bass. All striped bass in the possession of dealers must comply with the commercial striped bass tagging requirements. Dealers are also reminded that the Division of Marine Fisheries will be providing them with a written request to return all unused 2022 Striped Bass ID Tags and submit a Tag Accounting Report. If a dealer cannot account for an unused tag, they must provide this information in the Tag Accounting Report. Failure to return or account for unused tags may result in the dealer being unable to participate as a primary buyer of striped bass in future years.
Commercial fishermen are required to submit monthly trip-level reports by the fifteenth of the following month, even if their permit is not fished. Reports may be submitted electronically via a SAFIS eTrips account, whereas paper forms should be sent to DMF Statistics Project, 30 Emerson Avenue, Gloucester, MA 01930. Failure to submit these reports for all months of the year in a timely manner may result in the non-renewal of a commercial permit and its endorsements in 2023. Blank forms and instructions were mailed out prior to the beginning of the 2022 fishing season; additional copies can be obtained on the Trip Level Reporting website. Electronic reporting through SAFIS eTRIPS is encouraged.
For more information about the management of marine fisheries in Massachusetts, visit our website at www.mass.gov/marinefisheries.
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