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For immediate release: May 14, 2002
Contact: Michael Doebley, Legislative Director
609-294-3315
Hudson River Striped Bass Protection Bill Passes Key Committee Hurdle
ALBANY, NY (May14th, 2002) - A bill sponsored by Assemblyman Richard Brodsky (D-NY) and strongly supported by the Recreational Fishing Alliance cleared its first hurdle today after being favorably released by the NY Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee. Assemblyman DiNapoli, Chairman of the committee, guided the bill successfully through the committee process.
The bill, A10141, specifically states that stripers caught by any means in the Hudson or its tributaries north of the George Washington Bridge, can not be taken for purposes of, “selling, trading, bartering, or exposing such fish for purchase, sale, trade or barter”.
The sale of striped bass caught in the Hudson River was prohibited over 25 years ago due to PCB contamination. PCB- laden fish has been linked to numerous cognitive and developmental problems. Although recreational fisherman are more likely to know fish consumption limits, a person who consumes a commercially available fish would not know the health concerns of consuming such fish.
In 2000, The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to appointed a Temporary Advisory Committee to submit a report to the Commissioner that included recommendations on commercial management of striped bass in the Hudson River. The Committee resulted in no consensus decision on reopening the fishery. The no-consensus results of the Committee reflect the widespread uncertainty associated with reopening the striped bass commercial fishery.
“The Hudson River is comparable to the Delaware River in that both are relatively narrow and shallow bodies of water. Recognizing the unique nature of river spawning and juvenile nursery areas, Pennsylvania and New Jersey completely prohibit the taking of striped bass for commercial purposes from the Delaware River. Since the advisory panel could reach no decision, we believe that it is essential that the Hudson be kept closed through legislation,” States Jack Ferarra, RFA-NY Chairman.
In local economic terms, the recreational striped bass angling community provides tremendous revenues to local Hudson River communities. “The loss of the trophy-sized fish to commercial fishing pressure would mean the immediate loss of the recreational anglers who travel from across New York and the nation seeking the fish of a lifetime and the loss of the huge revenues they spend in River communities, “ said Sharon Jones, the RFA representative on Hudson River issues.
“This is the first step in what will be a long and difficult process. RFA-NY urges all concerned anglers to actively support this bill as it goes through the legislative process in the upcoming months. We thank both Assemblyman Brodsky and Assemblyman DiNapoli for their hard work on this issue,” said Jack Ferarra.
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