Upcoming Marine Fisheries Commission Meeting

/

The North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission will meet May 18-20 at the Crystal Coast Civic Center, 3505 Arendell St., Morehead City.

Public comment periods will begin at 6 p.m. May 18 and 9 a.m. May 19. The chairman will allow each speaker to comment for up to three minutes. Due to time constraints, those making comments will be asked to speak only once, either at the May 18 or May 19 session, but not during both public comment periods.
The business meeting begins at 9 a.m. May 19 and 8:30 a.m. May 20.

The deadline for submitting written correspondence to the commission, including email, through the Marine Fisheries Commission Office is 5 p.m. May 16. Those who wish to forego this process and give handouts to the commission during the public comment periods should bring at least 12 copies of the handout. 

The public may listen to the meeting on the Internet. Up to 200 participants may listen to audio and view presentations in real-time on a first-come, first-served basis. Directions for participating in the webcast, including information on system requirements and testing, can be found at: http://portal.ncdenr.org/web/mf/listen-online.

The commission is scheduled to:

  • Review advisory committee recommendations and public comment on the NOAA Fisheries 2016 recreational cobia season closure, and consider complementing this closure in state waters or adopting other possible cobia harvest restrictions;
  • Select adaptive management measures for the blue crab fishery required under Amendment 2 to the N.C. Blue Crab Fishery Management Plan;
  • Review advisory committee recommendations and public comment on lowering the daily oyster harvest limit for the commercial Shellfish License statewide, and approve the draft Oyster and Clam fishery management plans to send for departmental and legislative review;
  • Receive an update on the total allowable landings for pound nets by waterbodies required by Supplement A to the Southern Flounder Fishery Management Plan Amendment 1.

A full meeting agenda and briefing book can be found at: http://portal.ncdenr.org/web/mf/mfc-meetings. 

For more information, contact Marine Fisheries Commission Liaison Nancy Fish at 252-808-8021 or Nancy.Fish@ncdenr.gov.