Weekly Update: March 1, 2019

FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Shrimp Petition Update
The North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission (MFC) members were informed at their February business meeting that no further actions can be taken on the North Carolina Wildlife Federations (NCWF) petition for rulemaking better known as the “shrimp petition”. The Office of State Budget and Management (OSBM) has reviewed the fiscal note of the proposed changes to the shrimp rules, which were submitted to the MFC by the NCWF. OSBM determined that sufficient funds are not available to implement the proposed changes without undue detriment to the DMF’s existing activities. While the petition itself is dead several MFC members have made it very clear that they would like to see the measures recommended in the petition adopted in the amendment to the Shrimp Fishery Management Plan which is currently underway.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

The only bill introduced this week that is close to being fish-related is H-169, which is an Act to adopt the Loggerhead Sea Turtle as the official saltwater reptile of the State of North Carolina.
The draft shellfish bill is still being worked on and has not been released yet for review

FISHERIES RELATED

Marine Fisheries Commission adopts no-possession limit for striped bass in some internal coastal waters

MOREHEAD CITY – The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission has adopted a no-possession limit for striped bass in internal waters in the central and southern coastal areas of the state.

The management measure, once implemented, will apply to both commercial and recreational fishing in in the Central Southern Management Area, which encompasses all internal waters from just south of Oregon Inlet to the South Carolina line. The waters that will be impacted include, but are not limited to, the Pamlico and Core sounds and the Tar, Pamlico, Pungo, Bay, Neuse and White Oak rivers and their tributaries.

The management change will not impact striped bass fishing in the Atlantic Ocean, Albemarle Sound Management Area, Roanoke River Management Area, and inland waters under the jurisdiction of the N.C. Wildlife Resource Commission. The change also will not impact the Cape Fear River and its tributaries, where a no-possession rule already exists.

The management measure will still allow recreational catch-and-release of striped bass in the impacted areas.

The no-possession limit, essentially a year-round closed season, was adopted through Supplement A to Amendment 1 to the N. C. Estuarine Striped Bass Fishery Management Plan, and it is meant to be a temporary restriction to protect possible naturally-spawned year classes of striped bass until Amendment 2 to the N. C. Estuarine Striped Bass Fishery Management Plan is adopted. Amendment 2 could continue the no-possession provision or recommend other management actions.

Research has shown that striped bass in the Central Southern Management Area are not a self-sustaining population and that fishermen are mainly catching hatchery-raised fish; however, data suggest there have been two recent naturally-spawned year classes. The no-possession management measure will offer additional protection for those non-hatchery fish and protect larger females which could increase natural spawning stock biomass.

The commission also asked the director of the Division of Marine Fisheries to issue a proclamation that restricts the use of gill nets that interact with striped bass upstream of the ferry lines in the rivers and requires attendance of gill nets that interact with striped bass upstream of the tie-down lines. Division Director Steve Murphey said he is reviewing this request.

Recent Updates

Weekly Update: May 29, 2023

NCFA BOARD AND STAFF WISH YOU ALL A SAFE AND HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!   LET US NEVER FORGET THOSE WHO SACRAFICED ALL! MFC May 2023 Meeting Recap   Striped Mullet   Last week the North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission (MFC) voted to approve Supplement A to...

Weekly Update: May 22, 2023

Striped Mullet Supplement and MFC Meeting   The North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission (MFC) meets this week May 24-26th at the Beaufort Hotel located at 2440 Lennoxville Road, Beaufort, NC.    Written public comment will be accepted online until 4pm...

Weekly Update: May 15, 2023

Last Call for Striped Mullet Advisors to Apply The deadline to apply for a seat on the Striped Mullet Fishery Management Plan Advisory Committee is this Friday (May 19th).    The NC Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) will be holding an in-person workshop-style...

Weekly Update: May 08, 2023

Final DMF Observer Call-In Program Meetings and ASMFC Recap   The two final Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) observer call-in system outreach meetings are being held:   May 8 NC Cooperative Extension Currituck  County Center 120 Community Way, Barco  6pm -...

Weekly Update: May 01, 2023

DMF Call-in Observer Program Meetings and ASMFC Spring Meeting    We at NCFA want to emphasize the importance of attending one of the five public outreach meetings about the new automated call-in system that will be used to schedule observer trips in our state...

Weekly Update: April 24, 2023

DMF Seeks Input on Call-In Observer Trip Scheduling System   The North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) is hosting 5 public outreach meetings to provide updates and gather input on a new automated call-in system that will be used to schedule observer...

Weekly Update: April 17, 2023

Northeast Commercial Fishing Cost Survey   Last month NOAA Fisheries sent out letters and emails to federally permitted commercial fishing vessel owners in the Northeast Greater Atlantic region requesting them to participate in the Commercial Fishing Business...

Weekly Update: April 03, 2023

Upcoming April Meetings Mid-Atlantic Fisheries Management Council (MAFMC)  When: Tuesday April 4th (open meeting starts at 2:00pm)- Thursday April 6th, 2023 Location: 7840 NC-751 Hwy, Durham, NC 27713 Online: Click here to join the meeting Agenda and Briefing Book A...

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