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Contact: Patricia Smith ADDITIONAL WEAKFISH, STRIPED BASS HEARINGS SLATED MOREHEAD CITY – The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries has scheduled two public hearings to begin at 6 p.m. Sept. 24 at the Clam Digger Inn in Pine Knoll Shores. The hearings are being held to accept comments on interstate management proposals that could impact the state’s weakfish and striped bass fisheries. The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission is considering Draft Addendum IV to Amendment 4 to the Interstate Weakfish Management Plan and Draft Addendum II to Amendment 6 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Striped Bass. The draft weakfish addendum proposes a range of options to reduce fishing mortality in the weakfish fishery, including complete harvest moratoria or limited, bycatch only fisheries. For more information on this proposal, contact Lee Paramore of the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries, at (252) 473-5734 or [email protected]. The draft striped bass addendum proposes allowing states to carry over unused commercial striped bass quota from one year to the next, and presents options for eligibility and procedures for implementing such a measure. For more information on this proposal, contact Michelle Duval of the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries at (252) 808-8011 or [email protected]. The Sept. 24 hearings are in addition to previously announced public hearings scheduled for Oct. 14 at Roanoke Island Festival Park, Manteo. The Oct. 14 hearings begin at 6 p.m. for striped bass and 7 p.m. for weakfish. |