N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries Announces Scoping Period on Shrimp

The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries will hold a public scoping period Jan. 7-21, 2020 to solicit public comments on potential management strategies for an upcoming amendment to the Shrimp Fishery Management Plan.

Management strategies to further reduce bycatch of non-target species in the shrimp trawl fishery and potential changes to existing shrimp management strategies are being examined.

Fisheries stakeholders can provide in-person comments at three scoping meetings that will be held:

Jan. 7 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
N.C. Department of Environmental Quality
Washington Regional Office
943 Washington Square Mall, Washington

Jan. 9 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
N.C. Department of Environmental Quality
Wilmington regional office
127 Cardinal Drive Extension, Wilmington

Jan. 13 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries
Central District Office
5285 Highway 70 West, Morehead City

Beginning Jan. 7, comments can also be submitted through the division’s website with an online form or by mail. A news release will be issued closer to the scoping period providing details on how the public can participate.

A scoping document outlining the potential management strategies can be found on the Shrimp Amendment Information Page.