A project now in its second year seeks to temporarily tag and track by satellite 40 of the saltwater species so popular with recreational anglers could help fill data gaps that decades of research studies have so far left open.
fisheries
State ends bluefin tuna, billfish reporting requirements
The North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries has ended its longstanding Highly Migratory Species Catch Card program for bluefin tuna and billfish.
Doomed to repeat history: What’s in future for NC wetlands?
Guest commentary: Ignoring the past guarantees a grim future for our coastal communities, as the fishermen of Rose Bay warned decades ago. Will we listen now, or once again pay the price for failing to protect our way of life?
Public comment opens on proposed 50/50 flounder split
Advisory committees to the Marine Fisheries Commission are hosting meetings in April as part of the public comment period on a proposal to allow more recreational access to the southern flounder fishery by balancing allocation with commercial operators.
Blue crab management plan revision runs into rough waters
Proposed limits on the commercial harvest of blue crabs faces critics who say the management plan amendment is based on a benchmark stock assessment using data from 1995 to 2016.
Public hearing set on proposed Adams Creek shellfish lease
The hearing is set for 6 p.m. April 2 at the Craven Community College Havelock Campus.
Draft plan would evenly shift southern flounder catch quotas
A draft amendment to the state’s Southern Flounder Fishery Management Plan would level the catch quota 50/50 between commercial and recreational fishers a year ahead of schedule.
Comment period open for state flounder management plan
The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries is accepting input through March and hosting four informal, open-house-style public scoping meetings on an amendment to the state’s Southern Flounder Fisheries Management Plan.
NC Catch Summit March 10 to promote local seafood
Organizers have planned discussions on North Carolina fisheries, the value of community-based seafood businesses, seafood trends, marketing strategies, the new commercial fishing academy at Carteret Community College and consumer education.
Wildlife officials suspend Roanoke River striped bass season
The striped bass population in the Roanoke River Management Area is not recovering, despite state-imposed harvest reductions in years past, state Wildlife Resources Commission officials say.
Commission to consider changes to some fisheries rules
At its meeting mid-March in Kitty Hawk, N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission will consider next steps in the process to approve amendments for southern flounder, eastern oysters, hard clams and spotted seatrout management plans.
Public hearing slated for proposed Carteret shellfish leases
A public hearing will be held in Morehead City and via the web on several proposed bottom and water column shellfish leases in Carteret County waters.
Work in motion to expand artificial reef in lower Cape Fear
Work began this week to add 4 acres to an existing oyster and recreational fishing reef in the lower Cape Fear River near the banks of Carolina Beach State Park.
Commission proposes recreational spotted trout closure
The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission is proposing to temporarily close recreational harvest of spotted seatrout between May and mid-June in inland and joint waters.
Division to hold flounder advisory committee workshop
The workshop will be Monday at the Division of Marine Fisheries Central District Office in Morehead City.
Division closes spotted seatrout season because of cold
The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries announced Wednesday that it will close coastal and joint waters in North Carolina to both commercial and recreational spotted seatrout, or speckled trout, harvest effective 5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 24, because of widespread cold stuns.
