VIMS says rockfish numbers down

Preliminary findings from a long-term survey conducted by William & Mary’s Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) suggest that 2024 may be a disappointing year for young rockfish, also known as striped bass, in the Virginia tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay. The survey recorded a mean value of only 3.43 fish per seine haul, which is significantly below the historic average of 7.77 fish per haul. This marks the second consecutive year of below-average recruitment, raising concerns among researchers and stakeholders alike.

The Juvenile Striped Bass Seine Survey, which has been carried out annually since 1967, sampled 18 index sites across the Rappahannock, York, and James River systems. In 2024, scientists captured and measured a total of 585 juvenile rockfish. Mary Fabrizio, a professor at the Batten School at VIMS, highlighted the ecological and economic significance of these findings, stating that the rockfish population is not only crucial for maintaining the balance within the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem but also represents a valuable resource for commercial and recreational anglers.

Consecutive years of low numbers are particularly alarming, as they deviate from patterns observed in recent decades. Since the lifting of the rockfish fishing moratorium in 1990, years of low recruitment have typically occurred only once every decade in Virginia waters. The fluctuation in rockfish populations has raised questions about sustainability, especially given that the stock was previously considered overfished but is no longer experiencing overfishing, according to the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC).

The 2024 Striped Bass Stock Assessment Update, which will be discussed by the ASMFC’s Striped Bass Management Board later this month, is expected to address these ongoing challenges. Notably, similar trends of below-average recruitment have been observed in Maryland’s rockfish surveys, indicating a broader regional issue. With various restrictions already in place, including size limits and bag restrictions, stakeholders are closely monitoring the situation to ensure the long-term sustainability of the rockfish population in the Chesapeake Bay.