DEEP legislative proposal to change penalty for striped bass violation

Just received a message from Justin Davis, to the FAC members this afternoon. News of new penalties for illegal Striper fishing.
__________________________________________________________________________


I want to make you aware of a DEEP legislative proposal to change penalties associated with striped bass sport fishing violations. The text below describes the proposed change. Please distribute as you see fit – it would be particularly helpful if those of you who belong to fishing clubs or other such organizations could distribute this to your membership. Please also feel free to reach out with any questions – thanks.





The DEEP has proposed legislation to enhance enforcement of striped bass sport fishing regulations. Under current State law, our conservation officers can write tickets (infractions) for any sport fishing violation – with the exception of striped bass violations, for which the only option is to issue a misdemeanor summons. If found guilty, the violator faces heavier fines than for other sport fishing violations. Unfortunately, due to the overburdened nature of our state’s courts, existing laws are not having the desired effect. Prosecutors routinely decline to prosecute (nolle prosequi) fishing-related misdemeanors. Additionally, a misdemeanor case requires substantial time and effort on the part of DEEP conservation officers– making it all the more frustrating when such cases are dismissed. Our Environmental Conservation Police Division and the Marine Fisheries Program agree that allowing officers to write tickets for striped bass sport fishing violations would actually provide more effective deterrence against poaching. The new legislative proposal would provide that ability by converting hundreds of written warnings into tickets and paid fines and over time would likely translate to reduced striped bass poaching. This change is urgently needed given the recent finding by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) that the Atlantic striped bass stock is overfished and in need of enhanced conservation.





Justin Davis, PhD

Assistant Director

Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection

Fisheries Division
333 Ferry Road, P.O. Box 719, Old Lyme CT 06371
P: 860-447-4322|F: 860-434-6150 |E: justin.davis@ct.gov







www.ct.gov/deep



Conserving, improving and protecting our natural resources and environment;

Ensuring a clean, affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy supply.

Thanks for the update Mike!

Good to hear. Thanks Mike

this is a big improvement.... hopefully will dissuade a few dirtbags from poaching dinks from the river

Good in theory, but the bigger problem is the answer to overburdened courts is to dismiss cases....RIDICULOUS. Criminals play the odds and win, and not just in fishing violations. Until that stops we all get screwed, and the criminals continue to win and laugh their way to whatever they want to do.

“due to the overburdened nature of our state’s courts....Prosecutors routinely decline to prosecute (nolle prosequi) fishing-related misdemeanors.”

I called the deep hot line today. Couple of guys doing the Bucket brigade on shore in Stratford today south of route 1 bridge

Hmmmm. Tickets. I say make them pay the fine on the spot and they get a refund if the successfully contest said ticket. It's one thing to write a ticket and another to collect on the fine.

(Of course I have no idea whether this is even a problem, but seems logical to me. Some states do this with speeding tickets. Don't ask me how I know.)