Big Opportunity for Fisheries Conservation

There is an opportunity before the citizens of North Carolina to protect our aquatic marine habitats-North Carolina Wildlife Federation has petitioned the NC Marine Fisheries Commission to establish expanded nursery areas to protect juvenile fish to allow them a better chance to reach spawning age.

Within these new nursery areas, restrictions would be placed on shrimp trawling activities, including reducing the times allowed for trawling and the kind of gear used for trawling. North Carolina is the only state on the east coast to allow shrimp trawling in its sounds, fish nurseries, and estuaries. North Carolina’s sounds and estuaries are highly productive areas that provide essential habitat to later juvenile fish before these fish have an opportunity to spawn and contribute to the adult population.

This petition for rule-making aims to bring North Carolina in line with all other east coast and Gulf states in limiting trawling in sensitive and critical nursery and habitat areas. It is time we get serious about the future of our fish stocks for the future of North Carolina’s families and economy.

January 17 New Bern, NC
The Marine Fisheries Commission has received the Petition and has scheduled a Public Hearing to receive input into the content of the Petition and the question of adopting its recommendations. The Public Hearing will be held beginning at 12:30 pm on January 17, 2017 in New Bern, NC at the New Bern Riverfront Convention Center, 203 South Front Street, New Bern, NC. This is your chance to be heard about the proper management and protection of our marine fisheries resources.

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