The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission agreed this week that the Department of Environmental Quality's Division of Marine Fisheries should take a broader look at the protection of submerged aquatic vegetation.
During its quarterly business meeting, the commission voted to request that the Division work with the Commission’s Habitat and Water Quality Advisory Committee to develop more comprehensive options for protecting Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV) that consider all activities under the Commission’s authority, rather than just shrimp trawl area closures.
The comprehensive options could still include shrimp trawl area closures but will consider other fishing activities that may impact SAV.
SAV is federally designated as essential fish habitat and habitat areas of particular concern. These underwater grassy areas provide refuge and forage for juvenile fish and serve as spawning areas for many species. SAV also serves many other ecological functions.
Also, during the business meeting, the commission adopted the Estuarine Striped Mullet Fishery Management Plan Amendment 2.
The following management measures for the commercial fishery are estimated to generate a 34.9% reduction in harvest:
- 11:59 p.m. Friday to 12:01 a.m. Monday closure from Jan. 1 to Sept. 30.
- 11:59 p.m. Friday to 12:01 a.m. Tuesday closure from Oct. 1 to Dec. 31.
- Manage the stop net fishery with the same measures as the rest of the striped mullet fishery.
The management measures for the recreational fishery are:
- Recreational individual bag limit of 100 fish.
- Recreational vessel limit of 400 fish.
- An exception for For-hire Vessel Operations to possess a bag limit for the number of anglers fishing up to the 400-fish maximum (including in advance of a trip).
The Striped Mullet FMP Amendment 2 also includes adaptive management for both commercial and recreational fisheries that allows the Division Director to use proclamation authority to adjust season closures, day of week closures, and trip limits. The proclamation authority is contingent on Commission approval after consultation with advisory committees.
In other business, the Commission voted to:
- Request that the Division develop an issue paper with landings information and proposed rule language for Atlantic Bonito, using the Division’s sheepshead issue paper as a model.
- Approve proposed management language for the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact for future rulemaking.
- Send a letter to NOAA Fisheries expressing concern about proposed changes to the North Atlantic Right Whale Vessel Strike Reduction Rule.
- Give final approval to rule changes that:
- Amend 15A NCAC 03I .0113, 03O .0101, .0109, .0112, .0301 for Data Collection and Harassment Prevention for the Conservation of Marine and Estuarine Resources;
- amend 15A NCAC 03R .0117 for Oyster Sanctuary Changes;
- amend or repeal 15A NCAC 03I .0101, 03K .0101, .0104, .0301, .0401, .0403, .0405, 03O .0201, .0501, .0503, 18A .0901, .0906 for Conforming Changes for Shellfish Relay Program and Shellfish Leases and Franchises; and
- amend 15A NCAC 03K .0110 and 18A .0302 for Conforming Changes for Shellfish Sanitation.