The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries is encouraging fishermen and stakeholders to attend a series of upcoming meetings hosted by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council. These “Lines of Communication” meetings are intended to foster relationships between council members, staff, and fisheries participants, providing an opportunity for attendees to share their perspectives on federal fisheries management.
According to the department, “Lines of Communication is a new council initiative to build relationships with fisheries stakeholders and provide an opportunity for mutual sharing of information. The meetings allow attendees to provide their perspectives with local council members, council staff and other fishery participants. The meetings will be held in-person along the South Atlantic coast.”
The meetings in North Carolina are scheduled as follows:
– February 2, from 6-8 p.m., at Town Creek Community Center in Winnabow
– February 3, from 6-8 p.m., at the NC Division of Marine Fisheries Central District Office in Morehead City
– February 4, from 6-8 p.m., at Hatteras Civic Center in Hatteras
– February 5, from 6-8 p.m., at Virginia S. Tillett Community Center in Manteo
The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council is one of eight regional councils that oversee fisheries management in federal waters across the United States. It is responsible for managing resources off the coasts of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and east Florida within waters ranging from three to two hundred miles offshore. Managed species include dolphin, wahoo, mackerels, snapper, and grouper.
The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality manages and protects natural resources throughout the state via divisions focused on areas such as air and water quality. The agency also regulates waste management and coastal protection while offering public access to environmental data and assistance through its statewide network of offices (https://www.deq.nc.gov/).
