Staff Spotlight: Corrin Flora

Corrin Flora was recently promoted to Fishery Management Plan Coordinator. In this position, her primary responsibility will be to oversee the development and implementation of the state’s fishery management plans (FMP).

Flora is no stranger to fishery management plans, and many will recognize her from her recent role as co-Lead on Amendment 3 to the N.C. Blue Crab Fishery Management Plan. Corrin assisted in compiling data used to develop the division’s first blue crab stock assessment, and she worked with staff, advisory committee members and other stakeholders to develop the amendment, which was adopted by the N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission in February 2020. Corrin was also responsible for blue crab data collection in the Northern District of the state.

Corrin started with the division in 2015. Aside from serving as the co-lead on the blue crab FMP, she has coordinated long-term monitoring programs for commercial finfish and blue crab sampling out of the division’s Elizabeth City office. She also served as the invasive species lead for the division. She was the species lead biologist for Atlantic menhaden, serving on the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission Technical Committee where she recently became committee chair.

Corrin officially became FMP coordinator on August 24 and is aware and ready for the challenges that come with her new role. One, that is key, will be implementing recent changes in the division’s FMP development process. Corrin’s first major task will be organizing FMP joint workshops for the Southern Flounder Advisory Committee and the division’s plan development team. These workshops are part of a new format the division has developed to focus input and allow biologist, managers, and stakeholders to work together in developing FMP’s. Corrin will also be focusing on conducting these meetings virtually under current COVID restrictions, which is going to be quite a first task to take on. The first of these meetings will begin in early October.

Corrin holds a B.A. in Marine Sciences from Southampton College of Long Island University and a M.S. in Wildlife, Fisheries, and Aquaculture from Mississippi State University.

In her free time, Corrin has a passion for playing roller derby. She currently skates for the Dominion Derby Girls. FMP coordination is not for the faint of heart, but considering her choice of sports, she can handle it.