Information on Spotted Seatrout FMP Amendment 1
Spotted Seatrout FMP Amendment 1
The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission adopted the Spotted Seatrout Fishery Management Plan Amendment 1 during its March 2025 meeting. The management measures adopted are below and will be implemented when the spotted seatrout fishery reopens by proclamation later in 2025. For questions, contact Lucas Pensinger, Lucas.Pensinger@deq.nc.gov or Melinda Lambert, Melinda.Lambert@deq.nc.gov.
Recreational Measures
- A 14- to 20-inch slot limit with an allowance for one fish over 26 inches
- A 3-fish bag limit
Commercial Measures
- A Saturday through Sunday closure January through September
- A Saturday through Monday closure October through December
- Formalizing the stop net fishery management in the fishery management plan
Adaptive Management
- Adopting the adaptive management framework, with the caveat that adaptive management measures must be brought to the Commission for review prior to implementation
Cold Stun Management
- Extending the fishery closure by 15 days, to June 30, following a severe cold stun event
- Adopting a cold stun adaptive management framework
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.