From the Director’s Desk

Fishing, both recreational and commercial are economic engines for much of coastal North Carolina. Whether you fish or just enjoy eating seafood, the complexity behind the management of these species is at times a bit overwhelming to understand. In North Carolina the Division of Marine Fisheries is directly active in managing over 100 species and stocks of fish, shellfish and crustaceans. Some stocks, thirteen to be exact are managed as state species. Most of these stocks spend all or most of their lives in and around the waters of coastal North Carolina. Our Marine Fisheries Commission has the responsibility for these stocks and division staff develop fishery management plans with recommendations for their consideration and adoption.

However, the majority of stocks are managed through interjurisdictional, federal or even international fishery management plans. Many stocks, such as weakfish and coastal sharks, are found primarily within the boundaries of the states along the Atlantic Coast. These stocks are managed through a cooperative management strategy under the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission.

Southern snappers, groupers and many pelagic fish such as dolphin (mahi) and yellowfin tuna spend most of their lives in the offshore waters south of Cape Hatteras and are managed under the South Atlantic Fisheries Management Council. While other offshore stocks, such as monkfish, squids and summer flounder, are managed under the Mid-Atlantic Fisheries Management Council. Some stocks are also jointly managed with other councils or with the ASMFC. Some species, such as black sea bass, have two separate stocks (north and south of Cape Hatteras) and those stocks are managed separately.

Some stocks range all across the ocean, spending time along the coast of Europe before moving across the ocean to the American coast. Stocks such as bluefin tuna, mako sharks and several species of billfish, such as blue marlin, are managed under highly migratory species fisheries plans by the National Marine Fisheries Service and through international agreements under the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas.

In all of these areas, division staff are active in collecting and analyzing data, developing management measures at the field, management and policy levels. In this edition of Insight, I invite you to explore the many ways that your favorite fish to catch or your favorite seafood is managed.

Take care and stay safe out on the water.