[pectoralfin]

The numbers just don't seem right to me "In 2017, recreational anglers caught a total of 41.2 million Striped Bass. They kept 2.9 million and released 38.2 million. Out of those 38 million fish, 3.4 million ended up dying. The fact that more fish ended up dying from catch and release than from regular harvest is a clear indicator that a better catch-and-release policy is necessary."

On the bottom of the second chart it states "Recreational release mortality assumes that 9% of the fished released died" In fact that their numbers state 41.2M total were caught and 3.4M released died is only about 8.5 percent

Also, the line in the chart that is blocked off reads referring to mortality states "There is a standard percentage (9%) applied to the number of fish released" Why was the lined blocked out and where did the 48% come from?

Commercial harvest was 8% and mortality was 2% which translate to a 20% mortality rate.

Commercial harvest is to be cut by 18% while recreational harvest is to be cut 50%.

The author of the article used the numbers to grossly exaggerate the mortality rate and the impact of recreational fishery has on striped bass,