Topics Related to Marine Fisheries

The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission will meet in-person May 25-26 at the Beaufort Hotel, 2440 Lennoxville Road, Beaufort. The meeting will also be livestreamed on YouTube.

The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, May 25 and at 9 a.m. on Thursday, May 26.

The commission will hold in-person public comment sessions at 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 25 and near the beginning of the meeting on Thursday, May 26. Public comment will not be taken through web conference.

The following information pertains to in-person public comment:

New shrimp management measures will go into effect May 15 in North Carolina state waters. The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission approved the measures to reduce bycatch and protect habitat with the adoption of the Shrimp Fishery Management Plan Amendment 2 at its February business meeting.

The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission is accepting public comment on proposed amendments and re-adoption of nine rules under a state-mandated periodic review schedule. The rules are proposed for readoption without changes and pertain to joint fishing waters that are managed jointly with the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission.

A public hearing will be held by web conference on May 4 at 6 p.m. The public may join the meeting online; however, those who wish to comment during the hearing must register to speak by noon on the day of the hearing.

The recreational black sea bass fishing season will open May 15 in both federal and North Carolina waters north of Cape Hatteras.

During the open season north of Cape Hatteras, the minimum size limit will be 13 inches total length (tip of the snout to the tip of the tail), and the bag limit will be 15 fish per person, per day. The season will close on Dec. 11.