Information on Spotted Seatrout FMP Amendment 1
Draft Spotted Seatrout FMP Amendment 1
A review of the Spotted Seatrout Fishery Management Plan is underway. Results of the 2022 benchmark stock assessment indicate the stock is not overfished but is experiencing overfishing. At their November 2024 business meeting, the N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission vote to select their preferred management options for the commercial and recreational Spotted Seatrout fisheries.
Division management recommendation for both sectors:
- Statewide harvest closure Jan. through Feb.
Division management recommendation for recreational fishery:
- 14”–20” slot limit with allowance for one fish >26”
- 3 fish bag limit
Division management recommendation for commercial fishery:
- 11:59 p.m. Friday to 12:01 a.m. Tuesday closure from Oct. 1 to Dec. 31
- No changes to Bogue Banks stop net quota, but formalize management in Amendment 1
Division supplemental and cold stun management recommendations:
- Eliminate spotted seatrout captain/crew limit on for-hire trips
- Extend harvest closure following a severe cold stun through Jun. 30
For questions, contact Lucas Pensinger, Lucas.Pensinger@deq.nc.gov or Melinda Lambert, Melinda.Lambert@deq.nc.gov.
The public comment period closed on October 16th at 5 p.m.
The Division of Marine Fisheries accepted public comment on the Draft Spotted Seatrout Fishery Management Plan Amendment 1 from September 27, 2024 through October 16, 2024. Additionally, three advisory committees met in October 2024 to review the plan and provide recommendations for consideration by the Marine Fisheries Commission at its November 2024 business meeting.
| Northern Regional Advisory Committee Oct. 8 at 6 p.m. Department of Environmental Quality Washington Regional Office 943 Washington Square Mall, Highway 17 Washington, NC 27889 | Southern Regional Advisory Committee Oct. 9 at 6 p.m. Department of Environmental Quality Wilmington Regional Office 127 Cardinal Drive Extension Wilmington, NC 28405 |
| Finfish Advisory Committee Oct. 15 at 6 p.m. Division of Marine Fisheries Central District Office 5285 Highway 70 West Morehead City, NC 28557 | |
The N.C. Division of Marine fisheries held the Spotted Seatrout Fishery Management Plan Advisory Committee Workshop April 22-24, 2024. Workshop-style meetings allow scientists, managers, and stakeholders on the committee to address questions, comments, and concerns more effectively and in a less formal setting.
The workshop consisted of the fishery management plan advisory committee and division plan development team working together to refine draft Amendment 1. The advisory committee provided input for consideration while refining management options in the draft amendment. Based on the input, the division further developed Amendment 1 to present to the Marine Fisheries Commission at its August, 2024 business meeting.
Workshop materials:
Base Plan
Small Mesh Gill Net Information Paper
Sustainable Harvest Issue Paper
Supplemental Management Issue Paper
Cold Stun Management Issue Paper
The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries held a public scoping period to receive public input on potential management strategies. The primary management strategy for Amendment 1 is maintain a self-sustaining population that provides sustainable harvest in the spotted seatrout fishery. A scoping document outlining the potential management strategies was developed for the public. Fisheries stakeholders provided comments throughout the scoping period.
The 2022 benchmark stock assessment for spotted seatrout determined the stock is not overfished however overfishing is occurring. A reduction in total removals between 14.6-39.6% is needed to end overfishing within two years.