WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Tom Allen, a Member of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus, has introduced legislation with Rep. Frank Pallone of New Jersey to make striped bass a game fish rather than a

commercial fish throughout its range.

Many Eastern Seaboard states, including Maine, have already banned commercial fishing for the popular game

fish, recognizing its far greater economic value as a highly sought-after prize for recreational anglers.

Banning commercial fishing throughout the striped bass’s range would allow populations of the fish, which nearly

disappeared in the 1980s, to continue to rebuild and support the robust recreational fishery.

“Striped bass have become one of Maine’s most valuable sport fish, drawing thousands of anglers to Maine’s coast and supporting guides, tackle shops, and charter services worth tens of millions of dollars,” Allen said in a press release.

“Maine has done an excellent job managing stripers, but because most Maine striped bass migrate here each spring from other states, we’re vulnerable to their commercial fisheries,” he said. “Protecting stripers from

commercial pressure is the right thing for Maine’s anglers, the small businesses they support, and the ecology of Maine’s coast.”

Brad Burns, the president of Stripers Forever, applauded the efforts of Allen and Pallone.

“This bill recognizes the

vastly superior economic value that striped bass have to society when managed for recreational fishing,” Burns said. “The pressure of commercial exploitation

on this resource makes it impossible to manage it conservatively enough to optimize its value to the more than three million citizens who fish recreationally for striped bass on the East Coast.”

Currently Maine, New Hampshire, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina prohibit commercial fishing for striped bass, while

Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina still maintain commercial fisheries for the species.

Though recreational anglers vastly outnumber commercial fishermen, 40 percent of the total harvest is allocated for commercial fishermen.

“There is no question that game fish status for striped bass throughout their range is the right decision for the resource, especially when you look at the economic value of every fish caught,” said Ian Burnes, executive director of the Coastal Conservation Association of Maine.

The legislation introduced by Allen and Pallone bans commercial fishing for striped bass in the “exclusive economic zone,” waters from three to 200 miles from shore; and directs the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, which regulates fisheries within three miles of the coastline, to ban commercial fishing for striped bass there as well.

Wildlife park to look at bees

The Maine Wildlife Park will present a program on the life of the honey bee on June 16 from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m.

The program will look at the industrious life of the honey bee, its job as an important pollinator of fruits and vegetables, and the role of the beekeeper.

Parts of the beehive and beekeeping equipment will be on display and experienced beekeepers will be available to answer questions. Honey and other products of the hive will be for sale.

The Maine Wildlife Park is located on Route 26 in Gray.

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