Tag Archives: Amendment 2

North Carolina Fisheries Association Weekly Update August 29, 2022

At the August Marine Fisheries Commission (MFC) meeting, Amendment 2 to the Striped Bass FMP and the unjustified net ban in the upper Neuse and Pamlico Rivers was on the agenda once again.  Amendment 2 was up for final approval by the MFC, which we strongly opposed as long as the continuation of the net ban in the upper Neuse and Pamlico Rivers is incorporated into the Amendment. The Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) of NC, on the other hand, seemed to support the final approval of Amendment 2, only if the net ban remains part of the FMP. Surprised? Probably not, after all for decades the CCA has pushed for a net ban and, for decades, the NCFA has opposed this extreme agenda, making the gill net debate a constant source of friction at virtually every fisheries meeting. Another constant through the years has been the CCAs willingness to misinform and misuse data to support their agenda and the August MFC meeting was no exception. >click to continue reading< 18:49

North Carolina: Marine Fisheries Commission selects options for shrimp management plan

The North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission selected preferred management options for the draft Shrimp Fishery Management Plan Amendment 2,,,The commission selected options to permanently close all trawling in crab sanctuaries; to prohibit trawling in Bogue Sound and its tributaries except for the Intracoastal Waterway; and prohibit trawling in the Carolina Yacht Basin, except for the Intracoastal Waterway. However, the commission did not go forward with proposed regional area closures that would have prohibited trawling in most estuarine waters except for Pamlico Sound. >click to read< 13:45

North Carolina Fisheries Association Weekly Newsletter/Update for November 19, 2021

Shrimp FMP, Amendment 2:, The MFC meeting in Emerald Isle started out with a public comment period on Wednesday evening that lasted about 2 hours. The comments were limited to 3 minutes with overwhelming opposition to the DMF proposal to close certain areas to shrimping. The comments came from shrimpers, NCFA, county commissioners, a state Senator and consumers. We’ll offer a public thank you to the groups and individuals in the next update. >click to read<, to read all the updates >click here<, for older updates listed as NCFA >click here<-08:40

Closing inland shrimping will cost the consuming public more

More than just the livelihood of approximately 119 small, independent commercial fishing businesses stand to be hurt by a proposed N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries recommendation closing large swaths of inland waters to shrimping. This decision will have a negative impact on the primary stakeholders of this fishery, hundreds of thousands of consumers who enjoy fresh, local wild caught seafood. The DMF proposal, entitled Amendment 2 to the state’s Shrimp Fisheries Management Plan, notes that the shrimp fishery is “consistently one of the top two commercial fisheries by value” in the state. In 2019 this fishery had a “dockside value of over $22 million,,, Not noted in this report is the consumer benefit of the fishery which is difficult to quantify. >click to read< 07:53

N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission is reopening the Shrimp Fishery Management Plan Advisory Committee appointment process

The commission seeks a cross-section of applicants representing the various commercial and recreational shrimp fisheries, scientists with expertise in the areas of habitat or bycatch and gear innovation, especially with trawls and bycatch reduction devices, as well as individuals interested in shrimp fishing issues. Certain fisheries stakeholder groups were found to be underrepresented in the original applicant pool, specifically those who fish with large trawlers and those who fish in the Pamlico Sound. Adviser applications >available online here< or at Division of Marine Fisheries’ offices or by calling 252-808-8022 or 800-682-2632. >click to read< 11:28

North Carolina halting flounder fishing Sept. 4; denies shrimping petition

The N.C. Fisheries Commission last week voted to deny a petition for rulemaking that, if implemented, would impact the state’s shrimp trawl fishery. As a result, the Marine Fisheries Commission directed the division to consider elements of the petition in an upcoming amendment to the N.C. Shrimp Fishery Management Plan. >click to read< 09:45

A Conversation with Working Watermen Commission Chair Steve House on the Future of Flounder – How does the passage of Amendment 2 affect the Outer Banks, and how soon will potential impacts occur?,,, It will trickle down from the commercial fishermen, to the fish houses, to the servers and restaurants, and even to the consumers. >click to read<

N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission votes to close flounder fishing

The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission adopted the Southern Flounder Fishery Management Plan Amendment 2 as proposed by the Division of Marine Fisheries, giving the director of the Division of Marine Fisheries flexibility with the commercial and recreational seasons so long as they meet the statutorily required harvest reductions. The Division of Marine Fisheries anticipates issuing a proclamation next week that closes the commercial and recreational season around Sept. 4. >click to read< 12:21

North Carolina: After public input, panel leans toward Southern flounder harvest reduction

State fisheries managers plan to reduce the harvest of southern flounder – commercial and recreational – by 62-72% to address problems with the spawning stock.,,  met to select preferred management options for Southern Flounder Fishery Management Plan Amendment 2,,, N.C. Fisheries Association Executive Director Glenn Skinner said he’s been talking with commercial fishermen,,,  “Their concern is when it will happen this year,” he said. “We’d ask you to do it in December. We need (the flounder harvest) this year. A lot of people still have hurricane damage. We need to be able to reinvest in the industry. Reductions have been made before (to the flounder harvest). They may not have been enough.”>click to read<09:26

REMINDER: Public comment on AMENDMENT 2 of Southern Flounder Fishery Management Plan

>click here< for information on Southern Flounder Amendment – >click here < to submit Public Comment on Draft Southern Flounder Fishery Management Plan Amendment 2 17:33

Fisheries panel raises concerns about proposed flounder reduction

The Carteret County Marine Fisheries Advisory Board convened for the first time since February of last year to discuss what they feel is a misguided attempt to save the southern flounder population. At the end of the Wednesday meeting at the county administration building, board members decided to send a letter to Gov. Roy Cooper and other state figures. At issue is a portion of the Southern Flounder Fishery Management Plan. Amendment 2 of the plan recommends a 62% reduction in catch of southern flounder the first year, followed by a 72% reduction the following year.
The first year begins this fall. >click to read< 12:53

Information on Southern Flounder Amendment – >Click here< for info, and to submit a written comment

MFC draft plan would cut southern flounder harvest

The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission (MFC) heard a presentation on draft Amendment 2 to the Southern Flounder Fishery Management Plan Friday during its meeting in Jacksonville and voted to send the draft plan to advisory committees and hold a meeting for public comment on June 3 at the Crystal Coast Civic Center in Morehead City. A time has not yet been set. The draft amendment calls for significant management measures for the commercial and recreational fishery and includes significant harvest reductions for southern flounder coast-wide. >click to read<14:31