Contact: Patricia Smith
Date: June 30, 2009
Phone: (252) 726-7021

SOUTHERN FLOUNDER INTERIM RULES MEETINGS SET

MOREHEAD CITY – Several advisory committees to the N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission will discuss possible interim rules for southern flounder at meetings scheduled for August.

At its May meeting, the MFC asked its regional advisory committees and its Finfish Advisory Committee to review and comment on whether the state should implement interim rules southern flounder for season closures for both commercial and recreational fisheries and a recreational size limit increase and creel limit decrease. The MFC also asked the advisory committees to provide comments on how to address user conflicts in the southern flounder fishery.

State law allows the MFC to implement temporary management measures while a fishery management plan is being developed if it determines the regulations are necessary to ensure the viability of a species or fishery. State law also requires such interim measures to be reviewed by the MFC’s regional advisory committees.

The following committee meetings have been slated for the discussion:

Finfish Advisory Committee                                        Inland Advisory Committee
10:30 a.m., Aug. 3                                                       6 p.m. Aug. 5
DENR Washington Regional Office                            Archdale Building
943 Washington Square Mall                                    Ground Floor Hearing Room
Washington                                                             512 North Salisbury Street
                                                                              Raleigh

Northeast Advisory Committee                                 Southeast Advisory Committee
6:30 p.m., Aug. 6                                                    6 p.m., Aug. 11
Dare County Administrative Building                          DENR Wilmington Regional Office
Room 238                                                               127 Cardinal Drive
954 Marshall Collins Drive                                         Wilmington
Manteo

Central Advisory Committee
6 p.m., Aug. 12
DENR Washington Regional Office
943 Washington Square Mall
Washington 

For more information, contact Lauren Morris in the Fisheries Marine Fisheries Commission Office at (252) 808-8023 or [email protected].