Investigating Claims of Commercial Overfishing in the Atlantic Striped Bass Fishery
Date: January 20, 2026Executive Summary
Recent reports have raised concerns about the possibility of commercial overfishing impacting the Atlantic striped bass population. This report investigates these claims by analyzing the most current scientific assessments, fishery management documents, and economic data. The comprehensive review of the available evidence from sources including the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and independent research institutions indicates that the assertion of commercial overfishing being the primary driver of the striped bass population's current status is not supported by the data.While the Atlantic striped bass stock is officially classified as overfished, meaning the population size is below its target, it is not experiencing overfishing, which means the current rate of removal is not considered excessive . The primary cause of the stock's condition is poor recruitment (spawning success) in recent years, not excessive fishing pressure from the commercial sector. Data consistently shows that the recreational fishery is responsible for the vast majority of fishing mortality, accounting for approximately 89% of all removals, while the commercial fishery accounts for about 10.5% .
Furthermore, economic analysis reveals that the recreational striped bass fishery generates a disproportionately large share of the economic benefits, contributing over 97% of the total economic output associated with the species . Management actions, such as quota reductions and permit restrictions in the commercial sector, are part of a broader, coast-wide effort to rebuild the stock to sustainable levels and are not indicative of isolated wrongdoing by commercial fishermen.
Current Stock Status
The official stock status of Atlantic striped bass is a critical point of clarification. According to the 2024 stock assessment update, the stock is designated as "overfished," but fishing mortality is below the established threshold, meaning "overfishing is not occurring" .•Overfished: This term indicates that the spawning stock biomass (the total weight of fish in the population capable of reproducing) is below a scientifically determined target level. The 2023 female spawning stock biomass was estimated at 191 million pounds, which is below both the threshold of 197 million pounds and the target of 247 million pounds .
•Overfishing is Not Occurring: This means that the current rate at which fish are being removed from the population is below the established sustainable limit. The 2023 fishing mortality rate was 0.18, which is below the threshold of 0.21 .
This distinction is crucial. The problem is not that fishermen are currently taking too many fish, but that the overall population size is too small due to several years of poor spawning success and recruitment of young fish into the population .
Sector Contributions to Fishing Mortality
A detailed examination of removals from the striped bass stock clearly shows that the recreational sector accounts for the vast majority of fishing mortality. The 2024 Stock Assessment Update Report provides a detailed breakdown of removals, averaging data from 2022-2023 .| Removal Source | Percentage of Total Removals | Sector Total |
| Recreational Harvest | 49% | 89% |
| Recreational Release Mortality | 40% | |
| Commercial Harvest | 10% | 10.5% |
| Commercial Discards | 0.5% |
Economic Impact Analysis
From an economic standpoint, the striped bass fishery is overwhelmingly driven by recreational angling. A comprehensive 2019 report by Southwick Associates for the McGraw Center for Conservation Leadership, using 2016 data, found that the recreational sector's economic contributions dwarf those of the commercial sector .| Metric | Commercial Fishery | Recreational Fishery | Total | Commercial % | Recreational % |
| Jobs Supported | 2,664 | 104,867 | 107,531 | 2% | 98% |
| Income ($millions) | $72.7 | $4,726.0 | $4,799 | 2% | 98% |
| GDP ($millions) | $103.2 | $7,731.6 | $7,835 | 1% | 99% |
Management Context and Recent Actions
Fishery managers have implemented various measures to rebuild the striped bass stock, affecting both commercial and recreational sectors. These actions are a response to the "overfished" status of the stock, not a reaction to specific instances of commercial overfishing.For example, the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries has moved to restrict access to its commercial striped bass fishery. However, the rationale provided in their official memorandum is not commercial misconduct, but the need to manage the fishery in light of coast-wide quota reductions proposed by the ASMFC to meet the 2029 rebuilding deadline . The memo notes that Massachusetts is the only state with an open-access commercial striped bass fishery and that the changes are necessary to "support and maintain commercial fishing opportunities for existing participants" .
In October 2025, the ASMFC's Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board voted against a proposal for further reductions in the commercial and recreational catch. This decision was influenced by new data showing a significant decline in recreational catch, suggesting that existing measures might be sufficient to meet rebuilding goals without inflicting further economic hardship on fishermen . Commercial watermen have emphasized that their quotas have already been cut by 46% since 2012 and that further reductions would be devastating to their livelihoods .
Conclusion
The evidence from scientific stock assessments, fishery data, and economic reports does not support the claim that commercial overfishing is the cause of the Atlantic striped bass stock's current condition. The stock is classified as "overfished" due to a prolonged period of poor recruitment, not because of excessive current fishing pressure. The data clearly indicates that the recreational fishery is responsible for the vast majority (89%) of fishing mortality. While the commercial sector is subject to management actions, including quota reductions, these are part of a comprehensive, coast-wide strategy to rebuild the stock, a strategy that also heavily regulates the recreational sector.References
[1] NOAA Fisheries. "Atlantic Striped Bass." Accessed January 20, 2026.[2] Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. "Atlantic Striped Bass." Accessed January 20, 2026.
[3] Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. "2024 Atlantic Striped Bass Stock Assessment Update Report." January 2025.
[4] McMurray, John. "What's Really Going On With Striped Bass?" Marine Fish Conservation Network. January 30, 2025.
[5] Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries. "Memorandum: Emergency Regulations to Restrict Access to Commercial Striped Bass Fishery in 2026." September 12, 2025.
[6] National Fisherman. "Mid-Atlantic watermen urge balance on striped bass cuts." November 6, 2025.
[7] Southwick Associates. "The Economic Contributions of Recreational and Commercial Striped Bass Fishing." McGraw Center for Conservation Leadership. April 12, 2019.
