North Wake News

The North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission is scheduled to convene on March 12-13 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Kitty Hawk, N.C. The meeting will start at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, March 12, with a public comment session. Another opportunity for public comments will be available at 6 p.m. the same day. Due to time constraints, some agenda items will be voted on before the evening session.

Participants wishing to speak during the public comment sessions can sign up at the venue prior to the session. Each speaker is limited to three minutes and may only speak once during either the afternoon or evening session. Those providing handouts should bring at least 12 copies.

Written comments can be submitted through an online form on the Marine Fisheries Commission Meetings webpage, mailed to P.O. Box 769, Morehead City, N.C., or dropped off at the Division of Marine Fisheries’ headquarters in Morehead City. The deadline for written submissions is 4 p.m. on Monday, March 10.

The meeting will be livestreamed on YouTube with a link available on the commission's webpage. A recording will also be posted online after the event.

Key agenda items include final adoption of several rules related to pot marking requirements, false albacore management, and interstate wildlife violator compact regulations. The commission will also review public comments and select preferred management options for amendments related to oyster and hard clam fisheries and approve a draft amendment for southern flounder fishery management for further review.