The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries is now accepting public comment on proposed southern flounder management measures after the Marine Fisheries Commission voted this month on proposing changes that would significantly reduce commercial and recreational southern flounder harvest.
Supporters say the proposal would end overfishing and rebuild the stock of southern flounder in North Carolina waters. Opponents counter its another attack on gill netting by commercial fishermen in the sounds.
Southern flounder is one of three main species of flounder landed on the North Carolina coast. The other two species are summer flounder and Gulf flounder.
Reductions in harvest are required because a 2019 South Atlantic Southern Flounder Stock Assessment found that southern flounder is overfished and overfishing is occurring throughout the region, according to a NCDMF press release.
“Overfished” means the population is too small. “Overfishing” means the removal rate is too high.
State law mandates that fishery management plans include measures to end overfishing within two years of adoption and rebuild the stock to achieve sustainable harvest within 10 years of adoption.
A harvest reduction of at least 52 percent is needed to meet the statutory requirements, according to the statement.
To increase the probability of successfully rebuilding the resource, the division proposes a 62 percent reduction in southern flounder harvest, compared to 2017, in North Carolina this year and a 72 percent reduction in harvest beginning in 2020 until adoption and implementation of Amendment 3 to the Southern Flounder Fishery Management Plan, scheduled for completion in 2021.
The Southern Flounder Fishery Management Plan Advisory Committee, based on preliminary information, recommended a 31 percent reduction in commercial harvest, compared to 2017, and a 33 percent reduction in recreational hook and line harvest in 2019, compared to 2017, increasing to a 52 percent reduction in commercial and recreational harvest in 2020. The advisory committee’s recommendation meets statutory requirements to end overfishing in two years but does not rebuild the stock to sustainable harvest within 10 years.
The committee is scheduled to meet at June 3 at the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries’ Central District Office to reconsider its earlier recommendation, as well as comment from the public and other advisory committees. The meeting is open to the public, but no public comment will be accepted.
The Marine Fisheries Commission is then scheduled to hold a special meeting on June 6 to consider all public and advisory committee input and select its preferred management measures for departmental and legislative review. The commission is scheduled to give final approval of the draft amendment in August so that the management measures can be implemented by proclamation before this fall.
Draft Amendment 2 to the Southern Flounder Fishery Management Plan contains options for several seasonal harvest closure scenarios to achieve up to a 72 percent reduction in southern flounder harvest for the commercial and recreational fishing sectors.
Additionally, at the request of the Marine Fisheries Commission, the draft amendment includes an option for a partial moratorium.
Options for non-quantifiable management measures to constrain effort, such as yardage and time restrictions for gill nets and daily harvest limits for pound nets and gigs, are included in the draft amendment as well.
Details of the proposed management measures can be found on the Information on Southern Flounder Amendment page on the division’s website.
The public may comment on the draft amendment in three ways:
Public Meeting – The public may speak at a joint meeting of three advisory committees to be held June 3 at the Crystal Coast Civic Center, 3505 Arendell St., Morehead City. The joint meeting of the Finfish, Northern and Southern advisory committees will begin at noon and end at 4:15 p.m. and include a 90 minute comment period. During the comment period, members of the public may speak for three minutes each on a first-come, first-served basis. Doors will open at 11 a.m.
Online Comments – Public comments will be accepted online until midnight June 3 at
https://deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/marine-fisheries/information-southern-flounder-amendment.
That alternate webpage was created due to continued technical problems with the Division of Marine Fisheries website that has caused intermittent failures.
The division is continuing to work with the Department of Information Technology to correct these issues, which are affecting websites statewide.
Computers will be available at the June 3 public meeting to provide online access to attendees.
Mailed Comments – Written comments may be mailed to Southern Flounder Comments, P.O Box 769, Morehead City, N.C. 28557. Comments must be received by the division by midnight June 3.
The division will not accept public comment through email.
