There are two Southern Flounder Management Plan draft amendments scheduled to go before the Marine Fisheries Commission at its meeting later this month in Beaufort.
The meeting is to begin at 6 p.m. May 21 and resume at 9 a.m. on both May 22 and May 23 in the Beaufort Hotel at 2440 Lennoxville Road in Beaufort. The meeting will be livestreamed on YouTube. The link for the YouTube channel, as well as a full agenda and meeting materials are on the Marine Fisheries Commission meetings webpage.
Supporter Spotlight
The commission adopted in May 2022 Amendment 3 to the Southern Flounder Fishery Management Plan that established allocations be 70% commercial and 30% recreational for 2023 and 2024, 60/40 for 2025, and 50/50 starting in 2026. Amendment 4 is to expedite the shift to a 50/50 allocation in 2025, instead of in 2026.
The commission is likely to vote moving forward with Amendment 4 or maintaining the scheduled prescribed in Amendment 3. The final adoption of Amendment 4 scheduled for the August meeting.
Also regarding southern flounder, commissioners are to hear an overview about Amendment 5 to the Southern Flounder Management Plan. Amendment 5 is being developed at the same time as Amendment 4 to “explore long-term solutions to the issue of recreational access while maintaining Amendment 3 rebuilding requirements.” Broad topics to be addressed in amendment 5 include recreational access, strategies to address the effects of lower commercial sector quota on management, and changes to the adaptive management.
The commission is to consider voting on final adoption of amendments to the eastern oyster and hard clam management plans, on notice of text for rulemaking to amend permit-related rules, and for franchises and shellfish leases.
Commissioners are to hear presentations on Blue Crab Fishery Management Plan Amendment 3 Adaptive Management, the role that an economic analysis plays in the development of fishery management plans and commission rules, and from University of North Carolina Chapel Hill researchers on the importance of submerged aquatic vegetation.
Supporter Spotlight
There are two in-person public comment sessions scheduled during the two-day meeting. The first is at 6 p.m. May 21, and the second at 9 a.m. May 22. The deadline to submit written comments for the meeting is 4 p.m. May 19. Speakers planning to provide handouts should bring at least 12 copies.
Written comments can be submitted using an online form, by mail to Marine Fisheries Commission Meeting Comments, P.O. Box 769, Morehead City, NC 28557, or dropped off at the Division of Marine Fisheries office at 3441 Arendell St. in Morehead City.
