Public Comment Period for Draft Southern Flounder FMP Amendment 3

The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries is accepting public comment on proposed management to implement comprehensive, long-term measures to achieve sustainable harvest in the southern flounder fishery.

Draft Amendment 3 to the Southern Flounder Fishery Management Plan contains a suite of management options to address seven management strategies. These include:

• Sustainable harvest
• Increased recreational harvest
• Inlet corridors
• Adaptive management
• Sector allocations
• Slot limits
• Phasing out large-mesh gill nets

A companion Decision Document precedes Amendment 3 to the Southern Flounder Fishery Management Plan. The Decision Document includes the Division’s initial recommendations and rationale. More information is available on the Information on Southern Flounder Amendment 3 webpage.

The public may submit comments on the Draft Southern Flounder Amendment 3 through an online survey or through mail:

1. Submit Online Comments – Public comments will be accepted through an online form until 5 p.m. on Jan. 14. Click here to submit comments online.
2. Mail Comments – Written comments may be mailed to Draft Southern Flounder FMP Amendment 3 Comments, P.O Box 769, Morehead City, N.C. 28557. Comments must be received by 5 p.m. on January 14, 2022.
3. Speak During an Advisory Committee Meeting – Three Marine Fisheries Commission Advisory Committees will hold public comment on the draft amendment at the meetings listed below.

Emailed comments will not be accepted.

The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries held an online listening session about the Draft Southern Flounder Fishery Management Plan Amendment 3 on Jan. 5. At the listening session, division staff presented details of the draft amendment and allowed the public the opportunity to ask questions. The presentation was recorded and posted on the Information on Southern Flounder Amendment 3 webpage.

View the Amendment 3 Listening Session

Three Marine Fisheries Commission advisory committees will also meet to review and accept public comment on the draft amendment. The advisory committee meetings will be held by web conference.

Those who wish to speak during the public comment sessions must preregister by 5 p.m. the day prior to the meeting. Preregistration is required.

Below are the meeting dates, times, locations, and speaker registration links and deadlines.

Links to join the advisory committee meetings are posted on the Marine Fisheries Commission Advisory Committees Meetings webpage.

The Marine Fisheries Commission is scheduled to consider public comment and advisory committee input and select its preferred management measures for departmental and legislative review at its February 2022 business meeting and consider final approval of the amendment in May 2022.

For more information contact division biologists Michael Loeffler at 252-381-6002 or Anne Markwith at 910-796-7292.