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FMAC raises temporary striped‑bass bay cap to 4% to ease transfers and quota use
Summary
FMAC voted to raise the temporary bay cap on striped‑bass quota shares from 2% to 4% (per‑year temporary shares) while retaining the 2% permanent cap; the committee said the change will reduce administrative transfers and help older quota‑holders deploy quota more efficiently.
The Fisheries Management Advisory Committee voted to increase the temporary bay cap on individual striped‑bass quota shares from 2% to 4% for temporary/annual holdings, leaving the permanent cap unchanged at 2%.
Staff reviewed the regulatory history of the 2% cap (carried over in tag‑based and weight‑based systems since the late 1990s/2000s) and showed recent quota and harvest data. Committee members argued a modest temporary increase would reduce the volume of transfers and administrative overhead while allowing quota to be used more efficiently; others cautioned that concentrating quota among fewer fishermen could change distributional outcomes and urged the change be framed as temporary so it can be revisited.
After discussion and public comment, the committee moved to raise the temporary cap to 4% (temporary uses only), and the motion passed by voice/hand count (recorded as 10–1). Staff noted that implementation would require Commission action and that adjustments could be revisited if quota or fleet conditions change.
Committee members also raised operational ideas — earlier issuance of tags and other administrative steps — to improve quota use in off‑years and to support an aging fleet.
