As per the report the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Staten Island, homeported in Fort Macon, N.C., seized 2 recreational vessels with illegally caught fish. The Coast Guard crew informed that during the boarding of the vessels, one vessel was found with 10 striped bass aboard while the second had four striped bass.
It is fact that the tough economic pressures and the meteorological conditions driving the striped bass population farther off shore into warmer waters have set the stage for a situation that may entice fishermen to break the law, as evidenced by recent reports from members of the maritime community.
In order to maintain the stocks of the striped bass federal authorities are taking action. In response to multiple reports of commercial and recreational striped bass fishing within the Exclusive Economic Zone, the Coast Guard and NOAA have combined efforts to curtail this illegal activity.
The authority informed that the fishing for striped bass is permitted within state waters, but catching or possessing striped bass outside three nautical miles from shore is a violation of federal regulations. Lt. Cdr. James Klein, commanding officer of the Coast Guard Cutter Staten Island, said that their operations are meant to enforce regulations to safeguard their resources and promote public safety.
