MFC Mullet Meetings for May/June

[NCangler]

Media Contact: Nancy Fish, N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries
252-726-7021 or 800-682-2632

MULLET MEETINGS PLANNED FOR MAY AND JUNE

MOREHEAD CITY – A new recreational limit and specific rules for placement of commercial nets are among a list of actions proposed in the draft Striped Mullet Fishery Management Plan being discussed during a series of public meetings in May and June.
Since December 2002, an advisory group of commercial and recreational fishermen, scientists, and Division of Marine Fisheries staff, have been developing a fishery management plan for striped mullet. Management plans are required for all of the state’s significant fisheries. These plans describe the nature and problems of a fishery along with long-term regulatory recommendations that will address any problems and ultimately conserve that fishery. Fishery management plans use all available scientific information that applies to the species and its fisheries.

Striped mullet support an important Tar Heel fishery and while the stock is not overfished, there are concerns. High market demand for mullet roe causes commercial fishermen to target roe-carrying females before they have spawned, potentially reducing the reproductive capability of the stock. Recreational harvest of large numbers of juveniles for bait is another potential problem.

Highlights of the proposed management changes include:
· Implement a recreational harvest limit of 200 mullet per person, per day – currently there are no bag restrictions for mullet;
· Create rules to assign specific locations for ocean stop net sets along eastern Bogue Banks, from Ft. Macon State Park to “The Circle” in Atlantic Beach;
· Create rules requiring specific distances between stop nets, gillnets and piers in the ocean along eastern Bogue Banks, from Fort Macon State Park to “The Circle” in Atlantic Beach;
· Create rules requiring minimum distances between stop nets and gill nets in the ocean along western Bogue Banks, from “The Circle” in Atlantic Beach to Emerald Isle;
· Implement recommendations in the Coastal Habitat Protection Plan to improve water quality and habitat;
· Initiate further stock analysis if annual harvest falls below 1.3 million pounds or goes above 3.1 million pounds; and
· Handle gear conflicts on a case-by-case basis.

All meetings begin at 6 p.m.
May 10
Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources' Regional Office
127 Cardinal Drive Ext.
Wilmington

May 23
Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources' Regional Office
943 Washington Square Mall
Washington

May 26
College of the Albemarle
Building B, Rm. 202
1208 North Road Street
Elizabeth City

June 1
Duke Marine Lab Auditorium
Pivers Island
Beaufort

June 2
Department of Environment and Natural Resouces
Ground Floor Hearing Room, Archdale Building
Raleigh

The Marine Fisheries Commission will vote on which proposals to include in the draft Striped Mullet Fishery Management Plan at its June 28-30 business meeting in Raleigh. The final adoption of the plan will be considered at the commission’s business meeting Aug. 30-31 in Pine Knoll Shores.

For more information about these meetings, please contact Jess Hawkins by e-mail at Jess.Hawkins@ncmail.net or by calling 1-800-682-2632 or 252-726-7021.