MFC SETS NOVEMBER MEETING SCHEDULE
The meeting schedules have been set for the Marine Fisheries Commission to decide whether to amend or revise the shrimp FMP. Also, the commission will be asked to select preferred management options for the commercial flounder fishery and vote to send a draft amendment to the Southern Flounder Fishery Management Plan for Department of Environment and Natural Resources legislative review.
The CFRG is on record as supporting an amendment to the shrimp FMP. If the Commission elects to only do a revision, the FMP will basically remain the same and no discussion of shrimp by catch will be required. The CFRG believes the by catch issue is glossed over in the existing FMP and a much more comprehensive amendment is needed to rectify this.
The meetings will be held Nov. 7-9 at the Crystal Coast Civic Center, 3505 Arendell St., Morehead City. Public input will be received at the Nov. 7 meeting which begins at 6:00 p.m. Speakers will be limited to five minutes. On Nov. 8, the meeting will begin at 9:00 a.m. and presentations will be limited to three minutes. Remember, you can only speak at one of the meetings.
For those of you unable to attend the meeting, you can submit your comments to nancy.fish@ncdenr.gov. Your comments will be forwarded to the Chairman of the Commission and added to the public record.
The CFRG encourages everyone to participate in this extremely important process. Numbers count and we must make our voices heard, if we expect the MFC to make changes to the way shrimp are harvested in our inshore waters. The goal of the CFRG is to encourage the MFC to develop methods and time lines for reducing by catch of fin fish.
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