This year’s recreational flounder season will open at 12:01 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 1, and close at 11:59 p.m. Sept. 30 for both the recreational hook-and-line and gig fisheries.
fisheries
Commission tables striped bass plan amendment
Estuarine striped bass management will continue as prescribed by Amendment 1, including the temporary management measures related to possession limits and the use of large mesh gill nets in the upper Neuse and Pamlico river systems, until Amendment 2 is adopted.
Researchers index climate change effects for marine species
Nearly 90% of the 25,000 marine species studied will be at high or critical risk by 2100 in the worst-case scenario for greenhouse gas emissions, according to the study out this week.
Fisheries Commission meets Aug. 17-18
Approval for the Estuarine Striped Bass Fishery Management Plan Amendment 2 and the River Herring Fishery Management Plan information update are on the agenda.
Pamlico Sound oyster sanctuary network continues to grow
With the current project to build an oyster sanctuary near Cedar Island, the Division of Marine Fisheries is getting closer to its goal of 500 acres of protected oyster reefs in Pamlico Sound by 2026.
NOAA proposes expanding right whale protections
NOAA is asking for public comment on proposed changes that would expand mandatory speed restrictions for vessels to reduce the likelihood of collisions with north Atlantic right whales.
Pro tips: How to catch everyone’s favorite bottom dweller
Keep a sharp eye because you may not see them below, but there’s a certain fish that when hooked, despite its lowly status, is likely to make everyone happy.
Fisheries Division releases 2021 management plan review
The review released Wednesday summarizes available information, such as long-term trends in catch, biological data and management, through 2021 for North Carolina’s state-managed species.
Advisory board to hear updates on GenX, toxicity studies
Department of Environmental Quality staff are expected to present information regarding the EPA’s reference doses for PFOA, PFOS, GenX, and PFBS, bioaccumulation factors and potential uses.
State certifies first record-setting Spanish hogfish
Dr. Robert W. Timson of Southport holds the state and International Game Fish Association certification world record for a Spanish hogfish he caught last year offshore of Frying Pan Tower.
Recreational red snapper two-day season this weekend
N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries officials are asking recreational fishers to donate red snapper carcasses caught during the two-day season this weekend.
Shellfish lease transfer amended rule in effect
The changes clarify definitions and formalize procedures for transferring ownership or subleasing a shellfish lease.
Shellfish lease application period to close Aug. 1
The Division of Marine Fisheries accepts shellfish bottom lease and water column applications annually from March 1 through Aug. 1.
Interactive map shows where marine fisheries rules apply
The Division of Marine Fisheries has a new interactive, online tool to help the public with rules like anadromous fish spawning areas, demarcations of coastal, joint and inland fishing waters, and crab spawning sanctuaries.
Division rewards 15 anglers in fish tag drawing
The Division of Marine Fisheries randomly selected fish tag numbers from more than 664 tags that were turned in during 2021.
Meeting set on shellfish leasing in Bogue Sound
The goal is to provide information on shellfish leases and the potential of shellfish aquaculture enterprise areas in and around Bogue Sound, where there’s a moratorium on new leases.
