Southern Flounder Management Information

Southern Flounder Annual Update

The 2019 stock assessment of southern flounder in the South Atlantic indicated that the stock is overfished and overfishing is occurring. This assessment passed peer review and the model was accepted for management use. Amendment 3 to the Southern Flounder Fishery Management Plan was adopted in May 2022, maintaining reductions in total removals in North Carolina of 72%. In 2023, the recreational and commercial fisheries exceeded their total allowable catch, and paybacks were applied towards the 2024 seasons.

Information on Amendment 3

Southern Flounder are currently managed under Amendment 3 to the Southern Flounder Fishery Management Plan. The goal of this amendment is to achieve a self-sustaining population that provides sustainable harvest. Amendment 3 maintains a 72% reduction across the fisheries and carries forward several management measures, including minimum size, from Amendment 2.

Information on Amendment 4

At the request of the Marine Fisheries Commission, the Division of Marine Fisheries is currently developing draft Amendment 4 to the Southern Flounder Fishery Management Plan. The only issue considered in Amendment 4 is moving the adopted sector allocation shift to 50/50 (commercial/recreational) in Amendment 3 up by one year to 2025. The Marine Fisheries Commission is scheduled to vote to send draft Southern Flounder Amendment 4 out for public and advisory committee review.

Information on Amendment 5

Concurrently with Amendment 4, the Division will work on Amendment 5, which will contain options beyond an allocation shift to address the long-term management of Southern Flounder. The scoping period for Amendment 5 will be announced shortly.

Frequently Asked Questions about Southern Flounder Management

Species Leads

Anne Markwith

Email: Anne.Markwith@deq.nc.gov
Phone: 910-796-7292

Holly White

Email: Holly.White@deq.nc.gov
Phone: 252-381-6004