Information on Striped Mullet FMP Amendment 2
Striped Mullet FMP Amendment 2
Frequently Asked Questions about Striped Mullet Management
The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission adopted the Striped Mullet Fishery Management Plan Amendment 2 during its May 2024 business meeting. The goal of Amendment 2 is to manage the striped mullet fishery to achieve a self-sustaining population that provides sustainable harvest using science-based decision-making processes.
Management measures for the commercial fishery include:
- 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.
Management measures for the recreational fishery include:
- 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).
For questions, contact Jeffrey Dobbs, Jeffrey.Dobbs@deq.nc.gov, or Willow Patten, Willow.Patten@deq.nc.gov.
DMF Listening Sessions are opportunities for engagement between the public and DMF staff on Fishery Management Plans that have been approved for public review by the Marine Fisheries Commission. The Listening Session begins with a presentation of the issues by DMF staff and is followed by a question and answer period.
The striped mullet listening session was held on December 19, 2023.
Striped Mullet Decision Document
Draft Striped Mullet FMP Amendment 2
The Draft Striped Mullet FMP Amendment 2 public comment period occurred from December 18, 2023 through January 18, 2024. The draft amendment focused on sustainable harvest in the striped mullet fishery.
| Southern Regional Advisory Committee January 10, 2024 | Finfish Advisory Committee January 16, 2024 | Northern Regional Advisory Committee January 18, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Environmental Quality Wilmington Regional Office 127 Cardinal Drive Wilmington | Division of Marine Fisheries Central District Office 5285 Highway 70 West Morehead City | Dare County Administration Building Commissioners Meeting Room 954 Marshall C. Collins Drive Manteo |
The N.C. Division of Marine fisheries held the Striped Mullet Fishery Management Plan Advisory Committee Workshop July 25-27, 2023. Workshop-style meetings allow scientists, managers, and stakeholders on the committee to address questions, comments, and concerns more effectively and in a less formal setting.
The workshop consisted of the fishery management plan advisory committee and division plan development team working together to refine draft Amendment 2. The advisory committee provided input for consideration while refining management options in the draft amendment. Based on the input, the division further developed Amendment 2 to present to the Marine Fisheries Commission at its November 2023 business meeting.
The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries held a public scoping period to receive public input on potential management strategies. The primary management strategy for Amendment 2 is long-term sustainable harvest in the striped mullet fishery. A scoping document outlining the potential management strategies was developed for the public. Fisheries stakeholders provided comments throughout the scoping period.
The 2022 stock assessment for striped mullet determined the stock is overfished and overfishing is occurring. A 33% reduction in total removals is needed to end the overfishing within two years. A 20-33% reduction in total removals is needed to rebuild the female spawning stock biomass to sustainable levels and end the overfished status within 10 years.
2022 Stock Assessment of Striped Mullet (Mugil cephalus) in North Carolina Waters