NCDMF Stock Status Report 2003



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Stock status of important coastal fisheries in North Carolina, 2003
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 Based on the NEFSC survey, black sea bass north of Cape Hatteras are no longer overfished.

S. of Hatteras Overfished based on SAFMC assessment.

Bass, Striped

Albemarle-Roanoke 1994 Management plan is being amended to manage a recovered stock.

Atlantic Ocean ASMFC is currently managing under Amendment 6 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Striped Bass.

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. Analysis of data collected on the spawning grounds indicates that the stock is being overfished.

Bluefish ASMFC/MAFMC plan. Biomass models infer fishing mortality has steadily declined since 1987, and 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 2003.

Drum, Red Current regulations are designed to divert overfishing allowing for increased juvenile recruitment to the adult population and subsequent stock recovery.

Eel, American Much remains unknown about American eel life history and fisheries. Juvenile recruitment survey for North Carolina was initiated in 2001 as part of the ASMFC eel FMP.

Flounder, Southern Stock is overfished based on the latest stock assessment. A new stock assessment if currently underway and a NC FMP is being developed.

Flounder, Summer Based on the 2003 assessment, the summer flounder stock is no longer overfished and overfishing is no longer occurring.

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.

Mackerel, King "Based on the 2003 stock assessment, spawning stock biomass is above target and fishing mortality is below target."

Mackerel, Spanish "Based on the 2003 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 Assessment indicates scup no longer overfished; survey data indicate strong recruitment and some rebuilding of age structure. However, stock status with respect to overfishing cannot currently be evaluated due to unknown estimates of discard mortality.

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

Shad, Hickory "Landings significantly decreased. No assessment work has been conducted since 1993.

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

Spiny Dogfish MA/NEFMC plan for federal waters and ASMFC plan for state waters developed. Female spawning stock biomass below target biomass. Survey indicies of pup production are the lowest on record for the last 6 years. 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 2000-2002, following the historically record high landings observed during 1996 - 1999, has caused increased industry concern for the health of the resource and fishery. Overall landings increased slightly from the 2001 levels. "Peeler/soft crab" landings were the lowest since 1994. During 2002, many areas (i.e., Pamlico, Core, Bogue, Stump, and Topsail sounds; Neuse, Bay, and Newport rivers) yielded the lowest landings on record for the period from 1994-2002. NC FMP is under review.

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

Totals 13 3 9 9 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						Based on the NEFSC survey, black sea bass north of Cape Hatteras are no longer overfished.
S. of Hatteras						Overfished based on SAFMC assessment.
Bass, Striped
Albemarle-Roanoke						1994 Management plan is being amended to manage a recovered stock.
Atlantic Ocean						ASMFC is currently managing under Amendment 6 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Striped Bass.
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. Analysis of data collected on the spawning grounds indicates that the stock is being overfished.
Bluefish						ASMFC/MAFMC plan. Biomass models infer fishing mortality has steadily declined since 1987, and 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 2003.
Drum, Red						Current regulations are designed to divert overfishing allowing for increased juvenile recruitment to the adult population and subsequent stock recovery.
Eel, American						Much remains unknown about American eel life history and fisheries. Juvenile recruitment survey for North Carolina was initiated in 2001 as part of the ASMFC eel FMP.
Flounder, Southern						Stock is overfished based on the latest stock assessment. A new stock assessment if currently underway and a NC FMP is being developed.
Flounder, Summer						Based on the 2003 assessment, the summer flounder stock is no longer overfished and overfishing is no longer occurring.
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.
Mackerel, King						"Based on the 2003 stock assessment, spawning stock biomass is above target and fishing mortality is below target."
Mackerel, Spanish						"Based on the 2003 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						Assessment indicates scup no longer overfished; survey data indicate strong recruitment and some rebuilding of age structure. However, stock status with respect to overfishing cannot currently be evaluated due to unknown estimates of discard mortality.
Shad, American						ASMFC plan in place. DMF conducting fishery dependent and independent sampling.
Shad, Hickory						"Landings significantly decreased. No assessment work has been conducted since 1993.
Sharks						Increases in fishing pressure over the past thirteen years prompted State and federal fishery management measures.
Spiny Dogfish						MA/NEFMC plan for federal waters and ASMFC plan for state waters developed. Female spawning stock biomass below target biomass. Survey indicies of pup production are the lowest on record for the last 6 years. 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 2000-2002, following the historically record high landings observed during 1996 - 1999, has caused increased industry concern for the health of the resource and fishery. Overall landings increased slightly from the 2001 levels. "Peeler/soft crab" landings were the lowest since 1994. During 2002, many areas (i.e., Pamlico, Core, Bogue, Stump, and Topsail sounds; Neuse, Bay, and Newport rivers) yielded the lowest landings on record for the period from 1994-2002. NC FMP is under review.
Shrimp(C)						Annual Stock. Abundances may be greatly affected by environmental conditions.
Totals	13	3	9	9	6

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