Tag Archives: Part 3

NCFA Weekly Update for February 24, 2025: Scientific Uncertainty/Important Blue Crab Update

Abundance vs Stock Status. Last week we highlighted the high variability in estimates of Speckled Trout abundance from one stock assessment to the next, using Spawning Stock Biomass (SSB) estimates for 2008 from each of the three assessments to show the uncertainty. The 2009 assessment estimated ~800,000 lbs of mature females in 2008. The 2015 assessment estimated ~3,000,000 lbs of mature females in 2008. The 2022 assessment estimated ~4,000,000 lbs of mature females in 2008. Remember, these highly unreliable SSB estimates are compared to the SSB threshold, or level of abundance considered to be sustainable, to determine if a stock is overfished and if reductions are needed. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 15:29

NCFA Weekly Update for February 10, 2025 – Six Fisheries on the Chopping Block, Part 2 and Part 3

Part 1, Next week, at the meeting in Kitty Hawk, the Marine Fisheries Commission (MFC) will be looking at Amendment 4 to the Southern flounder Fishery Management Plan (FMP). The only action item in this amendment is moving the 2026 allocation shift of 50/50 up one year instead of following the plan outlined in Amendment 3, which was just finalized in 2022. more, >>CLICK TO READ<<

Part 3, Blue Crab – Next week, February 19th-21st, the Marine Fisheries Commission (MFC) will also be reviewing a Decision Document looking at using Adaption Management to reduce commercial blue crab harvest. Although no vote will be required at this meeting, the timeline for implementation of management changes is scheduled for final vote in May 2025! more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 11:18

The Long Haul, Part 3 Dwindling Baitfish Stocks Worry Fishermen and Regulators

When it comes to commercial fishing, the little fish are just as important as the big ones. It’s the baitfish—smaller species like river herring and Atlantic herring—that support the entire commercial fishing industry. continued@wcai