G.W. Bush signs executive order to protect Stripers

[Mike McKenzie]

Stripers Forever members - at a ceremony held on 10/20/2007 Saint Michaels, Maryland, President George Bush signed a new executive order directing the federal government to make the striped bass a game fish in federal waters, and encouraging states that haven’t already done so to adopt this management tool within their state waters.

This was the culmination of a great effort involving several of the leading recreational advocacy groups including The Coastal Conservation and Stripers Forever, environmental organizations like the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and the fishing tackle manufacturers represented by the American Sportfishing Association. Stripers Forever President Brad Burns was among those asked to stand with President Bush as he signed the executive order. Other members of the Stripers Forever board were also in attendance. It is certainly very encouraging to see this uncommon level of cooperation from all sides.

President Bush made it clear that he is not against commercial fishing, but he recognizes that game fish designation is the best management tool for protecting certain species that are vital to the recreational fishing public. Striped bass and redfish are fished for recreationally for both sport and food by millions of United States citizens. Socio economic studies show that the industry this fishery represents is many times more valuable than that represented by harvesting these same fish commercially.

This executive order has no immediate and direct effect on state fishery regulations, but it does set an important precedent, and displays a clear recognition of the values that Stripers Forever has put forth since its inception. It is now up to us and other recreational fishing advocates to build on this executive order. In the near future there will be a great opportunity for every member of SF to help us achieve the final goal of coast wide designation of striped bass as a game fish. Please be ready to help.

The full executive order can be found under recent news, posted on our website stripersforever.org.

The board of Stripers Forever

NICE JOB George...Now if we could get Ya' to quit killin' west coast Salmon and Steelhead......

Mike

[wjorg]

Why would GW want to protect Salmon and Steelhead, the Environmental Profiteering Agency (EPA) is already trying to get rid of them. Stripers will eat those the dewatering dosent kill.....

[BigBill]

Why would GW want to protect Salmon and Steelhead, the Environmental Profiteering Agency (EPA) is already trying to get rid of them. Stripers will eat those the dewatering dosent kill.....

Could you elaborate please? How is the EPA trying to get rid of Salmon/Steelhead?

[Scott V]

Who cares why, aren't you happy that he is trying to make a difference, that should be good enough.

[fallriverfish]

I believe he is talking about the Feds trying to remove wild steelhead and wild salmon from the protected species list. Instead they would like to count the hatchery fish as "wild " . This was shot down I thought ???

I agree that doing something is better than doing nothing but overall he hasn't done very much for sportsman since he has been in office. Oh yeah he has made a big difference in our west coast salmon season or lack of.

[DELETED]

DELETED