For Release: September 14, 1998

Contact: Richard T. Sisson 222-3075 or 789-3094

PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management's Division of Fish and Wildlife has announced that the commercial harvest of striped bass by all fishing methods except floating fish traps will be closed at noon Wednesday, September 16 because the yearly quota of 95,000 pounds has been landed.

Annually, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission assigns Rhode Island an allocation of striped bass that is distributed to various user groups. Distribution is made, based on historical landings by each group. The 1998 allocation of 151,000 pounds included 56,000 pounds to the floating trap fishery and 95,000 to all other commercial harvesters.

"Quotas for coastal states are the means by which the striped bass population is being protected from over-harvesting now that the once greatly over-fished population has recovered," said Richard T. Sisson, DEM Deputy Chief of Marine Fisheries. "We expect that with continued reproductive success in the striped bass population that, through quotas, the harvest can continue at moderate levels."