I started fishing for striped bass after the moratorium (1985 – 1990). All that I knew of the moratorium was based on second hand information. Having now read Striper Wars, I can say that I was ignorant. I am now educated. The breath and depth of political, legislative, and scientific information in this book is extensive. Exemplary journalism!
In his 368 page book, Dick Russell illustrates that striped bass management is a multi-dimensional problem:
- Dams, Pumps, and Turbines
- Commercial Harvest
- Recreational Harvest
- Illegal Harvest (Black Market)
- Disease (e.g. mycobacterium)
- Bait Fish Depletion (e.g. Menhaden and American Eels)
- Pollution (e.g. PCBs, PDBEs, and Pesticides)
- Climate Change
- By Catch
Hypothetically speaking, if striped bass were to become a game fish and therefore would only be harvested by recreational anglers, then the population could go up because two of the parameters are removed from the equation: commercial harvest and illegal harvest. However, if the population does not have sufficient food (i.e. bait fish), then the increased population will starve to death. In addition, if recreational anglers, who greatly out number commercial anglers, can harvest large breading fish (30, 40, 50+ pound fish), then the population may still increase, but at a much slower rate than then model would forecast. Hence, each parameter itself is multi-dimensional.
The Striper Wars is not something that happened. Striper Wars are still happening today! We must learn from warriors of past Striper Wars and apply a systematic approach to win the current Striper Wars and save America’s fish: Morone saxitilis.
