NCDMF Stock Status Report 2002



DMF Home	About DMF	Contact DMF	DMF Offices

Stock status of important coastal fisheries in North Carolina, 2002
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 1994 Management plan is being amended to manage a recovered stock.

Atlantic Ocean ASMFC developing Amendment 6 to manage recovered stock

Central/Southern Stocks are much lower than historical levels. Despite stocking efforts, numbers of mature fish on the spawning grounds are relatively low. NC FMP is being developed.

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 classes. 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 2002

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 is overfished based on updated stock assessment, which indicates a 32% decline in population biomass over the past decade. NC FMP 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 New assessment indicates recovery goal has been met.

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) Sink nets and shrimp trawls responsible for most of the commercial ocean catch. Commercial landings decline in 2001 attributed to reduced effort in the shrimp trawl fishery. Recreational landings declined slightly.

Mackerel, King "Based on the 1999 stock assessment, spawning stock biomass is above target and fishing mortality is below target."

Mackerel, Spanish "Based on the 1999 stock assessment, spawning stock biomass is above target and fishing mortality is below target."

Menhaden, Atlantic Very high spawning stock; improved recruitment of juveniles.

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

Mullet, Striped Large yearly landings and heavy fishing effort during its spawning period are cause for concern. Fishery management plan is currently being written.

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 FMP developed for federal waters by MA/NEFMC; ASMFC plan under development--15-20 year recovery period

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 approved 2001.

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. NC FMP approved 2001.

Scallop, Bay Low landings and recruitment were caused by varying environmental conditions and heavy predation by rays.

Crab, Blue Significantly reduced landings of "hard" blue crabs for 2000 and 2001, following the historically record high landings observed during 1996 - 1999, has caused increased industry concern for the health of the resource and fishery. It is still unclear if the decline in crab harvest can be directly attributed to the effects of the 1999 hurricanes (Dennis, Floyd, and Irene), because crab catches are depressed all along the east coast. NC FMP of 1998 is under review.

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

Totals 11 2 11 10 6

Change Symbols Stock status improved since last report Stock status declined since last report

(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						1994 Management plan is being amended to manage a recovered stock.
Atlantic Ocean						ASMFC developing Amendment 6 to manage recovered stock
Central/Southern						Stocks are much lower than historical levels. Despite stocking efforts, numbers of mature fish on the spawning grounds are relatively low. NC FMP is being developed.
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 classes. 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 2002
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 is overfished based on updated stock assessment, which indicates a 32% decline in population biomass over the past decade. NC FMP 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						New assessment indicates recovery goal has been met.
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)						Sink nets and shrimp trawls responsible for most of the commercial ocean catch. Commercial landings decline in 2001 attributed to reduced effort in the shrimp trawl fishery. Recreational landings declined slightly.
Mackerel, King						"Based on the 1999 stock assessment, spawning stock biomass is above target and fishing mortality is below target."
Mackerel, Spanish						"Based on the 1999 stock assessment, spawning stock biomass is above target and fishing mortality is below target."
Menhaden, Atlantic						Very high spawning stock; improved recruitment of juveniles.
Monkfish						FMP developed by NE/MAFMC - 10 year recovery period.
Mullet, Striped						Large yearly landings and heavy fishing effort during its spawning period are cause for concern. Fishery management plan is currently being written.
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						FMP developed for federal waters by MA/NEFMC; ASMFC plan under development--15-20 year recovery period
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 approved 2001.
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. NC FMP approved 2001.
Scallop, Bay						Low landings and recruitment were caused by varying environmental conditions and heavy predation by rays.
Crab, Blue						Significantly reduced landings of "hard" blue crabs for 2000 and 2001, following the historically record high landings observed during 1996 - 1999, has caused increased industry concern for the health of the resource and fishery. It is still unclear if the decline in crab harvest can be directly attributed to the effects of the 1999 hurricanes (Dennis, Floyd, and Irene), because crab catches are depressed all along the east coast. NC FMP of 1998 is under review.
Shrimp(C)						Annual Stock. Abundances may be greatly affected by environmental conditions.
Totals	11	2	11	10	6

Change Symbols		Stock status improved since last report			Stock status declined since last report