Commercial Flounder Season Closes In December

[NCangler]

COMMERCIAL FLOUNDER SEASON CLOSES IN DECEMBER
FOR INTERNAL WATERS

MOREHEAD CITY – The commercial season for flounder harvested from North Carolina’s internal coastal waters will close for the entire month of December.

This commercial closure is part of a suite of measures enacted by the N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission as part of the Southern Flounder Fishery Management Plan. The plan was designed to protect declining stocks of the state’s inshore flounder population, which is comprised primarily of very young fish, with few older, more productive spawners. A healthy stock generally has fish of all ages.

From Dec. 1 through Dec. 31, it will be unlawful to possess, land, sell, or offer for sale flounder caught in commercial fishing operations. Fish dealers have until 6 p.m. on Dec. 9 to sell, offer for sale, transport or have possession of unfrozen flounder taken from the inshore fishery prior to the closure.

For more information about this season closure, please contact David Taylor at 252-726-7021 or 800-682-2632, or visit the Division of Marine Fisheries Web site at: http://www.ncdmf.net/procs/procs2k5/FF-41-2005.htm. To view the Southern Flounder Fishery Management Plan go to http://www.ncdmf.net/download/SouFlouFMP.pdf.