Public Hearing on Red Drum Management
Thursday, September 25th 6:00-8:00pm
NC DMF Central District Office
5285 Hwy 70 West, Morehead City, NC 28557
The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) is holding a public hearing tonight (Thursday, September 25th) in Morehead to gather public comment on proposed management changes. Specifically, to NC, the ASMFC is looking at narrowing the current recreational slot limit for red drum to reduce harvest due to “concerning trends”.
Our red drum stock (the Northern red drum stock) is not overfished and overfishing is not occurring. In fact, the northern stock is expanding their historical range and the current spawning stock biomass (SSB) is estimated to be almost 3 times the threshold to sustain the population.
The documents also do not mention issues of concern with the NC fishery. The “concern” is with increasing catch in areas north of NC where range expansion is happening, specifically the Chesapeake Bay.
You read that correctly. ASMFC is concerned with a healthy, expanding population of fish.
The “concerning trend” is people catching more fish –- in areas where more fish are becoming available.
If you have the time please come out to make a comment or use the link above to submit a written comment before October 1st.
Section 3.4 Northern Region Management Options:
Option A. Status Quo
Under this option, states in the northern region would maintain current recreational management measures (Table 1). No changes to current management measures in the northern region would be needed.
Option B. Chesapeake Bay Jurisdictions Modifications
Chesapeake Bay jurisdictions are defined as Maryland, the Potomac River Fisheries Commission (PRFC), and Virginia. With increasing trends of sub-adult abundance and fishing mortality in the Chesapeake Bay sub region, this option is intended to 1) preempt further increases in fishing mortality; 2) align management across Chesapeake Bay jurisdictions; and 3) simplify management enforcement. All Chesapeake Bay jurisdictions would establish measures limiting recreational harvest to a Board specified bag limit of either 3, 2, or 1 fish per person per day and establish measures limiting recreational harvest to a board specified slot-size limit between 18” and 26” (e.g., 18” 26”, 19”-26”, 18”-25”, or 19”-25”).
Option C. North Carolina Slot Size Limit Modifications
Considering North Carolina’s current regulation permits 1 fish per person per day from 18” to 27”, any reductions to fishing mortality in the state would most easily be obtained through adjusting the slot-size limits. The below option would establish a reduced maximum size of 26” for the state with the option for the Board to further adjust either the minimum or maximum slot size at their discretion. North Carolina would establish measures limiting recreational harvest to a Board-specified slot size limit between 18” and 26” (e.g., 18”-26”, 18”-25”, or 19”-26”, or 19”-25”). The bag limit in North Carolina will remain at 1 fish per person per day.
NCFA Staff