Proposal to allow catching striped bass With Gill Nets riles anglers
A large striped bass.
Excerpted from an article in EcoRI News
“PROVIDENCE — Some Rhode Island anglers are opposing a proposed regulation from state environmental officials that would allow catching striped bass with gill nets.
“A handful of anglers from the Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association (RISAA) are against the suggested change to commercial striped bass fishing rules, which would allow commercial anglers to catch the Atlantic Ocean fish with a type of net that also catches them by accident.
“Anglers say the change would cause overfishing of the state’s striped bass population, which is in a regional rebuilding period after years of overfishing.
“Dave Monti, a charter boat captain and RISAA member, told ecoRI News that gill nets have a habit of catching fish species that they typically aren’t set up for.’’