The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries has released its annual Fishery Management Plan Update, providing new information on the status and management of coastal fish species in the state. The update includes data through 2024 and covers stock status, trends, research needs, and management strategies for both state-managed and federally managed species.
For Southern Flounder, the update reports that the stock remains overfished and subject to overfishing according to the latest assessment. A review of the Southern Flounder Fishery Management Plan (FMP) began in 2024 with a focus on increasing recreational access while meeting rebuilding requirements outlined in Amendment 3. Amendment 4, which would expedite a shift to an equal allocation between recreational and commercial sectors by 2025 instead of 2026, is scheduled for adoption by the North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission (MFC) in August 2025. At the same time, Amendment 5 is being developed to address long-term management approaches.
The Kingfishes FMP will undergo review in 2025. This process will include a comprehensive evaluation of available data and reconsideration of management triggers due to changes in survey methods that may affect their reliability.
Red Drum stocks are managed under both state and interstate plans. A benchmark stock assessment completed by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) in 2024 found that northern Red Drum stocks, including those in North Carolina, are not currently overfished nor experiencing overfishing. However, some concerning trends have been identified. In response, ASMFC’s Sciaenid’s Management Board has begun developing Addendum II to Amendment 2 for interstate management. The state-level FMP review is ongoing this year.
Blue Crab stocks continue to decline despite measures implemented with Amendment 3 to the Blue Crab FMP adopted in February 2020. Additional management changes are likely needed to meet rebuilding targets, with options set for consideration by the MFC in November 2025. The next plan review is scheduled for 2026.
Amendment 1 to the Spotted Seatrout FMP was adopted by the MFC in March 2025 with new rules aimed at reducing harvests and ending overfishing. These include commercial harvest closures on certain days, new slot limits and bag limits for recreational fishers, as well as adaptive management measures related to cold stun events. After a significant cold stun event in January 2025, all spotted seatrout fisheries were closed from January until July.
For Eastern Oyster and Hard Clam fisheries, recent amendments were adopted by the MFC in May 2025 focusing only on wild harvest due to data limitations preventing stock assessments for these species. New provisions balance oyster habitat value with fishery needs through deep-water recovery areas and phased changes to harvest methods. Both plans also seek improved estimates of recreational shellfish participation and aim to distribute health information regarding shellfish sanitation.
The full Fishery Management Plan Update can be accessed via the Division’s Fishery Management Plans webpage.
“The Fishery Management Plan Update is a compilation of annual updates for each State, Federal and Interstate managed species for which North Carolina participates in development and adoption of the fishery management plan (FMP).”
“Each update contains information based on data through the previous calendar year, in this case, 2024, including: stock status; data trends; research needs; and management strategies.”
