Washington, DC - Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) has requested the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) initiate an environmental impact study before any final decision is made on opening the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) to striped bass fishing. CCA requested the study earlier this year in the aftermath of the Atlantic Marine Fisheries Commission’s disappointing vote to recommend opening the EEZ.

An environmental impact study (EIS) is required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for major Federal actions that could significantly affect the quality of the natural and human environment. In all the long history of striped bass management, an EIS has never been performed on the striped bass fishery.

"This study will not only evaluate the possible environmental and economic impacts that opening the EEZ would have on the striped bass fishery, it will also take into account the legal and political ramifications of the proposed action," said Fred Miller, CCA National Government Relations Committee Chairman. "Without the information to be supplied by the Environmental Impact Study, NMFS has nothing in its possession that is supportive of its legal authority to open the striped bass fishery in the EEZ."

During a similar attempt in 1995, CCA argued that under the Striped Bass Act, NMFS could not open the EEZ unless it could determine that such action would not disrupt management of striped bass by the states. NMFS ultimately agreed with CCA’s position and the EEZ remained closed.

"They will have to get a legal opinion that spells out exactly how they can abide by the standards of the Striped Bass Act and open the EEZ without disrupting state management plans. Right now, they don’t have any information to make that assessment," said Charles Witek, Vice Chairman of CCA's National Government Relations Committee. "The NEPA process will allow them to make a much more informed decision. With this action, CCA is calling on NMFS to collect a broad spectrum of information so they can make a decision based on facts."

CCA is confident that the information produced through this procedure will result in the continued closure of the EEZ. During the NEPA process, the general public as well as federal, state and local agencies will have the opportunity to give comments at a series of public hearings designed to better define the issues.