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Striped bass face declining numbers after eight poor spawning years
- •Regulators say the Chesapeake Bay, where up to 90% of the fish spawn and grow, has had eight consecutive years of poor reproduction.
- •The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission considers the stock overfished, but says overfishing is not currently occurring.
- •Scientists cite warming waters, drought, low river flows and pollution among factors harming reproduction; fishermen have called for stricter limits or a moratorium.
- •An industry group representative warned the fishery could collapse around 2029 or 2030; the industry says it supports about $8 billion in economic activity and up to 100,000 U.S. jobs.
By Patrick Whittle, Associated Press, Robert F. Bukaty, Associated Press
