N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission to Meet Feb. 14-15 in Wrightsville Beach

The North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission will meet Feb. 14-15 at the Blockade Runner, 275 Waynick Blvd., Wrightsville Beach.

The meeting will begin at 2 p.m. Feb. 14 and 8:30 a.m. Feb. 15. 

A public comment period will be held at 6 p.m. Feb. 14. Members of the public may speak to the commission on any fisheries-related topic. The chairman will allow each speaker to comment for up to three minutes. No other public comment period is slated for this meeting.

The deadline for submitting written comments to the commission, including email, through the Marine Fisheries Commission Office, is Feb. 9. Those who wish to forego this process and give handouts to the commission during the public comment period should bring at least 12 copies of the handout.

The meeting agenda includes:

Voting on committee recommended changes to eligibility requirements for commercial fishing licenses (any changes will require legislative approval);

A report on a Southeast Regional Southern Flounder Stock Assessment;

A presentation on potential solutions to address shellfish lease conflicts; and

An update on analysis and recommendations for the striped mullet fishery.

A meeting agenda and briefing book materials can be found here.

The public may listen to the meeting on the Internet. Up to 200 participants may listen to audio and view presentations in real-time on a first-come, first-served basis. Directions for participating in the webcast, including information on system requirements and testing, can be found here. Following the meeting, an audio recording will be posted online.

For more information, contact Nancy Fish in the Marine Fisheries Commission office at 252-808-8021 or Nancy.Fish@ncdenr.gov.