NCDMF Stock Status Report 2001



DMF Home	About DMF	Contact DMF	DMF Offices

Stock status of important coastal fisheries in North Carolina, 2001
Click on a species name to get a more detailed report on its status.
Status definitions can be found here. Glossary of fisheries terms can be found here.

Species and Stock Status

Viable Recovering Concern Overfished Unknown Marine Fisheries Comments

Bass, Black Sea

N. of Hatteras Overfished based on ASMFC assessment.

S. of Hatteras Overfished based on SAFMC assessment; new size and bag limits should address concerns.

Bass, Striped

Albemarle-Roanoke NC FMP being developed to manage recovered stock

Atlantic Ocean ASMFC developing Amendment 6 to manage recovered stock

Other areas Stocks are much lower than historical levels. Despite stocking efforts, numbers of mature fish on the spawning grounds are relatively low.

Bluefish ASMFC/MAFMC plan developed.Biomass models infer reduced fishing mortality should result in stabilization of the stock.

Catfishes (A) No current sampling program due to budget and personnel constraints

Croaker, Atlantic A recruitment driven stock where biomass and landings fluctuate in response to large year classess. The ocean fisheries appear viable and there has been a recent expansion of the length distribution from inside waters.

Dolphin/Wahoo SAFMC plan to be approved and implemented in 2001

Drum, Red Low recruitment of juvenile stock to adult stock. NC FMP finalized April 2001.

Eel, American Much remains unknown about American eel life history and fisheries. Juvenile recruitment survey for North Carolina was initiated in 2000 as part of the ASMFC eel FMP

Flounder, Southern Stock appears viable, but is dependent on older fish escaping fishing mortality. Work is underway to validate the occurrence of escapement. Fishery Management Plan is being developed.

Flounder, Summer Dramatic improvements in age distribution, spawning stock biomass, and fishing mortality have occurred since the early 1990's. The stock appears to be near viable status.

Grouper, Gag Stock considered overfished by SAFMC. New size and bag limits should address concern.

Herring, River (A)

Albemarle Sound River Herring FMP approved by MFC February 2000. Reduced number of age classes in harvest, low juvenile production, fewer number of repeat spawners.

Other Areas No current sampling program.

Kingfishes (A) Growing ocean sinknet fishery south of Cape Hatteras, commercial landings declined slightly in 2000, recreational catch increased significantly.

Mackerel, King The SSB and TAC continue to increase based on 1999 South Atlantic assessment.

Mackerel, Spanish The SSB and TAC continue to increase based on 1999 South Atlantic assessment.

Menhaden, Atlantic Very high spawning stock; continued poor recruitment; reduced fishing effort.

Monkfish FMP developed by NE/MAFMC - 10 year recovery period.

Mullet, Striped 2000 landings were the largest reported since 1993. Trends of increasing effort and smaller size structure of the population are considerable cause for concern for this species.

Perch, White No sampling programs due to budget and personnel constraints

Perch, Yellow No sampling programs due to budget and personnel constraints

Reef Fish (B) Of the 73 species (including black sea bass) in the SAFMC unit, 17 are considered overfished

Species and Stock Status

Viable Recovering Concern Overfished Unknown Marine Fisheries Comments

Scup Stock size near record-low levels. Spawning stock biomass improving.

Shad, American ASMFC plan in place. DMF conducting fishery dependent and independent sampling.

Shad, Hickory Landings and abundance increasing.

Sharks Increases in fishing pressure over the past eleven years prompted State and federal fishery management measures.

Sharks, Dogfish Harvest in state waters controlled by ASMFC emergency rule. FMP developed for federal waters by MA/NEFMC. ASMFC plan under development for state waters.

Spot Fluctuating landings not unusual for short-lived species.

Spotted Seatrout ASMFC plan developed. Stock status heavily dependent upon environmental conditions.

Sturgeon, Atlantic ASMFC is responsible for managing this species and considers the stocks to be depleted along the Atlantic coast. Coast-wide prohibition on possession.

Tautog Current ASMFC coastwide assessment considers tautog overfished. NC statewide assessment has not be conducted.

Weakfish Viable based on all criteria. Record high spawning stock biomass, expanded age structure, and low fishing mortality.

Shellfish and Crustaceans

Clam, Hard Although landings data exist on clams, more data are required for stock status. NC FMP being developed.

Oyster, Eastern Concern status due to high mortality from Dermo infections, evidence of increased oyster habitat loss, low catch-per-unit-effort, and reduced spatfall in the northern area.

Scallop, Bay Low landings and recruitment in Core Sound was caused by varying environmental conditions and heavy predation by rays.

Crab, Blue Statewide blue crab landings during 2000 were below landings in the late 1990's, most likely due to lingering impacts on habitat and water quality in the Pamlico Sound area from the 1999 hurricanes. Landings in the Albemarle area and Southern District were relatively normal compared to recent years.

Shrimp(C) Annual Stock. Abundances may be greatly affected by environmental conditions.

Totals 10 2 12 10 6

(A) Catfishes includes 4 species, Kingfishes (Sea Mullet) includes 3 species, and there are two species of river herrings. (B)The reef fish group includes about 75 species, while there are more than 40 species of sharks. Within these groups, individual species range from healthy to depressed. The status indicated is for the group as a whole. (C)Shrimp consists of 3 species - brown, pink, and white.

Species and Stock	Status
	Viable	Recovering	Concern	Overfished	Unknown	Marine Fisheries Comments
Bass, Black Sea
N. of Hatteras						Overfished based on ASMFC assessment.
S. of Hatteras						Overfished based on SAFMC assessment; new size and bag limits should address concerns.
Bass, Striped
Albemarle-Roanoke						NC FMP being developed to manage recovered stock
Atlantic Ocean						ASMFC developing Amendment 6 to manage recovered stock
Other areas						Stocks are much lower than historical levels. Despite stocking efforts, numbers of mature fish on the spawning grounds are relatively low.
Bluefish						ASMFC/MAFMC plan developed.Biomass models infer reduced fishing mortality should result in stabilization of the stock.
Catfishes (A)						No current sampling program due to budget and personnel constraints
Croaker, Atlantic						A recruitment driven stock where biomass and landings fluctuate in response to large year classess. The ocean fisheries appear viable and there has been a recent expansion of the length distribution from inside waters.
Dolphin/Wahoo						SAFMC plan to be approved and implemented in 2001
Drum, Red						Low recruitment of juvenile stock to adult stock. NC FMP finalized April 2001.
Eel, American						Much remains unknown about American eel life history and fisheries. Juvenile recruitment survey for North Carolina was initiated in 2000 as part of the ASMFC eel FMP
Flounder, Southern						Stock appears viable, but is dependent on older fish escaping fishing mortality. Work is underway to validate the occurrence of escapement. Fishery Management Plan is being developed.
Flounder, Summer						Dramatic improvements in age distribution, spawning stock biomass, and fishing mortality have occurred since the early 1990's. The stock appears to be near viable status.
Grouper, Gag						Stock considered overfished by SAFMC. New size and bag limits should address concern.
Herring, River (A)
Albemarle Sound						River Herring FMP approved by MFC February 2000. Reduced number of age classes in harvest, low juvenile production, fewer number of repeat spawners.
Other Areas						No current sampling program.
Kingfishes (A)						Growing ocean sinknet fishery south of Cape Hatteras, commercial landings declined slightly in 2000, recreational catch increased significantly.
Mackerel, King						The SSB and TAC continue to increase based on 1999 South Atlantic assessment.
Mackerel, Spanish						The SSB and TAC continue to increase based on 1999 South Atlantic assessment.
Menhaden, Atlantic						Very high spawning stock; continued poor recruitment; reduced fishing effort.
Monkfish						FMP developed by NE/MAFMC - 10 year recovery period.
Mullet, Striped						2000 landings were the largest reported since 1993. Trends of increasing effort and smaller size structure of the population are considerable cause for concern for this species.
Perch, White						No sampling programs due to budget and personnel constraints
Perch, Yellow						No sampling programs due to budget and personnel constraints
Reef Fish (B)						Of the 73 species (including black sea bass) in the SAFMC unit, 17 are considered overfished
Species and Stock	Status
	Viable	Recovering	Concern	Overfished	Unknown	Marine Fisheries Comments
Scup						Stock size near record-low levels. Spawning stock biomass improving.
Shad, American						ASMFC plan in place. DMF conducting fishery dependent and independent sampling.
Shad, Hickory						Landings and abundance increasing.
Sharks						Increases in fishing pressure over the past eleven years prompted State and federal fishery management measures.
Sharks, Dogfish						Harvest in state waters controlled by ASMFC emergency rule. FMP developed for federal waters by MA/NEFMC. ASMFC plan under development for state waters.
Spot						Fluctuating landings not unusual for short-lived species.
Spotted Seatrout						ASMFC plan developed. Stock status heavily dependent upon environmental conditions.
Sturgeon, Atlantic						ASMFC is responsible for managing this species and considers the stocks to be depleted along the Atlantic coast. Coast-wide prohibition on possession.
Tautog						Current ASMFC coastwide assessment considers tautog overfished. NC statewide assessment has not be conducted.
Weakfish						Viable based on all criteria. Record high spawning stock biomass, expanded age structure, and low fishing mortality.
Shellfish and Crustaceans
Clam, Hard						Although landings data exist on clams, more data are required for stock status. NC FMP being developed.
Oyster, Eastern						Concern status due to high mortality from Dermo infections, evidence of increased oyster habitat loss, low catch-per-unit-effort, and reduced spatfall in the northern area.
Scallop, Bay						Low landings and recruitment in Core Sound was caused by varying environmental conditions and heavy predation by rays.
Crab, Blue						Statewide blue crab landings during 2000 were below landings in the late 1990's, most likely due to lingering impacts on habitat and water quality in the Pamlico Sound area from the 1999 hurricanes. Landings in the Albemarle area and Southern District were relatively normal compared to recent years.
Shrimp(C)						Annual Stock. Abundances may be greatly affected by environmental conditions.
Totals	10	2	12	10	6