Crustacean Advisory Committee June 6 at 6PM

[NCangler]

Notice is hereby given that the NC Marine Fisheries Commission Crustacean Advisory Committee will meet on Monday, June 6, 2005 at 6:00 p.m. at the Craven Country Cooperative Extension Service Office (Ag Building) located at 300 Industrial Drive, New Bern, NC.
Public hearings have been completed on the Blue Crab Fisheries Management Plan (FMP). The MFC will be considering rules to implement the FMP at their June 28 – 29, 2005 meeting in Raleigh, NC. The Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) will overview the pubic comments received and provide the DMF’s recommendations. The Committee will have the opportunity to provide advice on the Blue Crab FMP after reviewing the pubic comments and DMF recommendations.
The Committee will also discuss the proposed rule to implement a minimum size limit of 6.75 inches (with a 5% tolerance) for mature females from September 1 – April 30 if a spawner index falls below the lower 90% confidence limit for two consecutive years. These measures were proposed to help ensure blue crab populations remain at sustainable harvest levels.
The Committee will also be updated on the progress of the Draft Shrimp FMP. The FMP advisory committee is presently discussing management options for Neuse, Bay, Pamlico and Pungo Rivers, the Atlantic Ocean, and Pamlico Sound.

For further information, please contact Jess Hawkins, DMF, at 800-682-2632 or 252-726-7021.

CRUSTACEAN
ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING
Craven County Cooperative Extension Service Office, New Bern, NC
Monday, June 6, 2005
6:00 P.M.

AGENDA
· Introductions
· Modification to Agenda
· Approval of Minutes
· March 7, 2005
· Update
· Stone Crab Management Measures
· Public Comment
· Overview of Blue Crab FMP Public Comments
· DMF Recommendations
· Discussion
· Spawning Stock Management
· Rittschoff Study
· Discussion
· Recommendations
· Draft Shrimp FMP Update
· Next Meeting
· Issues