North Wake News

The North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission has approved the draft Southern Flounder Fishery Management Plan Amendment 4 for public and advisory committee review. This amendment proposes to accelerate the sector allocation shift to a 50/50 split between commercial and recreational fishing by one year, moving it from 2026 to 2025.

Previously, Amendment 3, adopted in 2022, outlined a gradual change in quota allocation from a 70/30 commercial/recreational split to a 60/40 split in 2025 and eventually reaching a balanced 50/50 distribution in 2026. However, due to limited recreational flounder seasons over the past two years, the commission directed the Division of Marine Fisheries to explore options for increasing recreational access while adhering to stock rebuilding requirements set forth in Amendment 3.

Long-term solutions for recreational access will be addressed in Amendment 5, which is currently being developed. The scoping period for this amendment remains open until March 31. Additional information can be found at https://www.deq.nc.gov/information-southern-flounder-amendment-5.

The schedule for public comments and advisory committee meetings regarding Amendment 4 will be announced soon.

In other decisions, the commission adopted the N.C. Spotted Seatrout Fishery Management Plan Amendment 1 with specific provisions. For recreational measures, there is now a slot limit of 14-20 inches with an allowance for one fish over 26 inches and a three-fish bag limit. Commercial measures include closures from Saturday through Sunday from January through September and Saturday through Monday from October through December. Additionally, stop net fishery management has been formalized within the plan.

The commission also endorsed adaptive management with a requirement that any adaptive measures must receive commission review before implementation. In terms of cold stun management, they extended fishery closure by an additional fifteen days following severe cold stun events until June 30 and adopted an adaptive framework for such situations.

Furthermore, final approval was given to amend eight rules related to pot marking requirements, false albacore management, and interstate wildlife violator compact regulations.

A letter will be sent to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce supporting Amendment 59 concerning Red Snapper within the Snapper-Grouper Fishery Management Plan of the South Atlantic Region.

Preferred management options were selected for legislative review concerning draft amendments on Eastern Oyster and Hard Clam fisheries. These include establishing deep-water oyster recovery areas closed off from mechanical harvesting and linking oyster harvest management in Pamlico Sound with cultch planting efforts based on pre-season sampling results. A rotational opening plan for mechanical oyster harvests on designated sites is proposed alongside phasing out mechanical clam harvesting over three years from public bottoms associated with maintenance dredging activities.

Finally, options are being explored to estimate participation levels in recreational shellfish activities accurately while ensuring necessary health and safety information regarding shellfish sanitation is communicated effectively.