Last Oyster and Clam AC Meeting This Week / Public Comment Period Ends
The habitat and water quality advisory committee (ACs) will be the final AC meeting to discuss the draft fishery management plan (FMP) updates for oyster and clam. The public is encouraged to attend this meetings, give public comment, and ask questions. This meeting will be your last opportunity to let fisheries managers know what works for you and even more importantly what does not work for you! After this meeting Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) staff will begin preparing the final draft to be presented to the Marine Fisheries Commission (MFC) at their February meeting.
The DMF recommends phasing out mechanical clam harvest (clam kicking) and closing approximately 40,000 acres to mechanical oyster harvest in this draft proposal.
Public comment closes at 5:00pm Wednesday January 15th. If you oppose these changes now is the time to discuss these issues through public comment and talking with DMF staff, AC members, and MFC members.
Habitat and Water Quality AC Meeting
Wednesday, Jan. 15th 6:00-8:00pm
Division of Marine Fisheries Central District Office
5285 Highway 70 West
Morehead City, NC
Public Comment Information
Click Here to Submit Online Comment
Comments can also be mailed to:
Draft Oyster/Clam FMP Amendments Comments
P.O. Box 769, Morehead City, NC 28557
Clam FMP Information
The biggest change DMF recommends for mechanical clam harvest is to phase out clam kicking in three years unless the number of participants in the fishery increases to 10 and landings exceed 1 million clams. If participants and landings increase to the threshold, the Marine Fisheries Commission (MFC) will reconsider the phase out at their May 2027 business meeting. More details can be found at the links below.
Oyster FMP
The DMF is recommending a permanent closure of two large areas, totaling approximately 70 square miles at the mouth of the Neuse and Pamlico rivers to mechanical oyster harvest and to use DMF pre-season sampling to set a predetermined season length for mechanical harvest while they also continue in season sampling. Map of the proposed closure areas (outlined in purple) and more details can be found below.
Much discussion was had about these issues at all three meetings last week and there were many good alternate management ideas discussed. I encourage everyone to stay involved, ask questions, and reach out the DMF oyster and clam leads as they develop the final draft to be presented next month.
For oyster questions, contact Joe Facendola or Bennett Pardis.
For clam questions, contact Jeffrey Dobbs or Lorena de la Garza.
If you would like to listen to any of the meetings last week click links below.
Northern Regional AC Oyster/Clam Meeting
Southern Regional AC Oyster/Clam Meeting
Shellfish/Crustacean AC Oyster/Clam Meeting
If you have any questions or comments please reach out.
Thomas Newman
Fisheries Liaison
