The N.C. Marine Fisheries recently presented an analysis of Southern Flounder in North Carolina waters, which showed modest improvements in stock, including a slight increase in abundance and a wider age range of fish.
The Commission also received an update on the harvest management strategy for Striped Bass in the Neuse and Tar-Pamlico rivers, which will allow for limited harvest of stocked fish in the rivers next year and a limited harvest of Albemarle-Roanoke stock Striped Bass.
The proposed framework and tentative timeline for developing the 2026 Coastal Habitat Protection Plan Amendment was also presented. The focus areas include:
- Submerged aquatic vegetation protection and restoration
- Planning for multi-decadal changes to wetlands
- Using an integrated ecosystem assessment to determine the status and trends of coastal habitats
- Examining how community engagement and resilience relate to coastal habitat protection.
