MEDIA ADVISORY: Marine Fisheries Commission to meet Aug. 23-25 in Raleigh

The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission will meet in-person Aug 23-25 at the Hilton North Hills, 3415 Wake Forest Road, Raleigh. The meeting will also be livestreamed on YouTube.

The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 23; at 9 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 24; and at 9 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 25.

The commission will hold in-person public comment sessions at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 23, and at 9 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 24.

The following information pertains to in-person public comment:

• Those who wish to speak may sign up at the hotel prior to the public comment period in which they wish to speak.
• To accommodate as many speakers as possible, the chair will limit each speaker to 3 minutes.
• Those making comments will be asked to speak only once, either Wednesday night or Thursday morning, but not during both public comment periods.
• Those who wish to submit handouts to the commission during a public comment period should bring at least 12 copies to the meeting.

The public may also submit written comments via the following methods:

• An online form accessible through the Marine Fisheries Commission Meetings webpage.
• Mail to August 2023 Marine Fisheries Commission Meeting Comments, P.O. Box 769, Morehead City, N.C. 28557. 
• Dropped off at the Division of Marine Fisheries’ Morehead City Headquarters Office at 3441 Arendell St., Morehead City.

The deadline to submit written comments for this meeting is 4 p.m. Monday, Aug. 21.

The YouTube link will be posted on the Marine Fisheries Commission Meetings webpage. After the meeting, a recording will be posted online.

Agenda items include:

• A presentation on the Annual Fisheries Management Plan Review.
• Discussion and possible vote on the proposed Mutilated Finfish Rule.
• Setting the annual cap for the number of Standard Commercial Fishing Licenses available through the Eligibility Pool.
• Election of a vice-chair.
• Updates on the
  • Development of fishery management plans,
  • Catch-U-Later App,
  • Observer Trip Scheduling System, and
  • Shellfish Rehabilitation Program.

The full agenda and briefing book are posted on the Marine Fisheries Commission Meetings webpage.