Spotted Sea Trout Management History
2009
Spotted Seatrout stock assessment suggests that overfishing is occurring and the stock is overfished for the entre 18 year time series (1991-2008)
2010
MFC approved the Spotted Seatrout FMP with the following management measures;
Recreational – 14” minimum size limit, 6 fish bag limit, only 2 fish over 24” allowed
Commercial- Year-round weekend restriction on possession
2010
NC General Assembly passes legislation, pushed by CCA and former DMF Director Louis Daniel, which implemented the following requirements;
FMPs shall, specify a time period, not to exceed two years from the date of adoption of the plan, to end overfishing;
Specify a time period, not to exceed 10 years from the date of adoption of the plan, for achieving a sustainable harvest;
And include a standard of at least fifty percent (50%) probability of achieving sustainable harvest for the fishery.
CCA argues that the Spotted Seatrout FMP must adhere to these statutory requirements despite the fact that it had already been approved.
2011
The Joint Legislative Oversight Commission on Seafood and Aquaculture recommended that the Spotted Sea Trout FMP should be exempted from the new statutory requirements and legislation was introduced to implement their recommendation.
CCA opposed this legislation which ultimately led to no action by the General Assembly and the trout FMP was required to meet statutory requirements.
2011
MFC adopted the Spotted Sea Trout FMP with phased in management that would meet full statutory requirements in 2014.
Recreational – 14 inch minimum size limit, 4 fish bag limit
*then in 2014, a 3 fish bag limit and December 15 – January 31 harvest closure
Commercial – 14 inch minimum size limit, 75 fish trip limit, year-round weekend restriction for possession or sale, unlawful to set gill nets in joint waters on weekends, *then in 2014, a 25 fish commercial trip limit
*2014 management was needed to meet CCA statutes
2014
DMF conducted a new Spotted Sea Trout stock assessment which showed overfishing was not occurring and the stock was not overfished, and apparently never had been, not even for the 18 years the initial assessment showed it was.
2014
In anticipation of the new stock assessment results, the MFC approved Supplement A to the Spotted Sea Trout FMP which prevented the full impact of the CCA statutes from being realized and implemented the current management measures.
2018
The Federal Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP) replaced the Coastal Household Telephone Survey (CHTS) with the Fishing Effort Survey (FES) which dramatically increased recreational harvest and discard estimates.
Two Examples:
Recreational harvest in 2012 was estimated at 500,522 using CHTS and later changed to 1,602,836 using FES.
Recreational discards in 2010 were estimated at 1,765,466 using CHTS and later changed to 8,034,670 using FES.
2022
DMF completed a new Spotted Sea Trout stock assessment (1991-2019) which suggests the stock is not overfished and overfishing was occurring only in one year, 2019 the terminal year of the assessment.
2024
In order to address on single year of overfishing, DMF recommends a 40% harvest reduction and the following management measures;
Recreational – 14” to 20” slot limit, one fish over 26”, January-February harvest closure, no captain/crew bag limit on for-hire trips with no broader vessel limit
Commercial – Saturday thru Monday harvest closure October-December and January-February harvest closure
Questions
Supposedly, stock abundance is as high as it has ever been, the stock is not overfished, and overfishing is only occurring in a single year. Why is DMF recommending management measures that are more restrictive than what they said was needed to meet statutory requirements in 2011, when the stock was thought to be overfished and overfishing occurring for 18 years?
Why is there so much uncertainty in the Spotted Sea Trout stock assessments?
Why are the Spawning Stock Biomass and Fishing Mortality estimates so drastically different from one assessment to the next?
If DMF updated the 2022 stock assessment with data through 2023, would the assessment still be considered useful for management? Blue Crab and Southern Flounder were not!
Would overfishing even be occurring if the recreational effort data had not changed, or would it be worse?
Does one year of possible overfishing justify management, given the obvious uncertainty?
Why do DMF recommendations NOT address recreational dead discards as peer reviewers recommended?
These questions need to be answered before anyone can make an educated recommendation.
| Glenn Skinner
Executive Director |
|||
10.7.2024
UPDATE ON STORM ASSISTANCE IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA
Last week we sent 100,000 pounds of bulk ice to a facility in Flat Rock, south of Asheville. Thanks to all who contributed ice, trucks with refrigerated trailers, plastic bags, shovels and of course, drivers! All went very smooth, in part because we made sure the logistics were taken care of BEFORE any truck left eastern North Carolina. One of the trips also had other supplies in addition to ice.
We have also received quite a few cash donations to help with the relief effort. That information along with the specifics of the ice, etc., will be shared later via an update and social media. Pictures will also be added.
We were informed that ice was needed in the Morganton area but in talking to the manager at that facility they did not have the ability to accept it with no forklift or any way to keep the ice cool. So, for now it’s just wait and see on any additional requests for bulk ice.
Thanks to all who have assisted so far!
God bless,
Jerry Schill
Meetings This Week
The Northern and Southern Regional Advisory Committees (AC) will be meeting about Spotted Sea (Speckled) Trout management options this week and the Finfish AC will meet next week. Public comment period is open online and will be taken in person at the AC meetings.
Draft Spotted Seatrout Fishery Management Plan Amendment 1
Northern AC
When: Tuesday, October 8th 6:00-8:00pm
Where: Department of Environmental Quality Washington Regional Office
943 Washington Square Mall, Highway 17
Washington, NC
Southern AC
When: Wednesday, October 9th 6:00-8:00pm
Where: Department of Environmental Quality Wilmington Regional Office
127 Cardinal Drive Extension
Wilmington, NC
Finfish AC
When: Tuesday, October 15th 6:00-8:00pm
Where: Division of Marine Fisheries Central District Office
5285 Highway 70 West
Morehead City, NC
Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council
The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC) meets this week as well. Topics on the agenda include offshore wind, spiny dogfish, tilefish, and HMS reporting changes, just to name a few. Please see links to the meeting agenda page for details.
When: Tuesday, October 10th through Thursday, October 12th
Where: Hyatt Place Dewey Beach, 1301 Coastal Highway, Dewey Beach, DE 19971
October 2024 MAMFC Meeting Webpage
Thomas Newman
Fisheries Liaison
