SF Amendment 4

Acknowledgments

Amendment 4 to the NC Southern Flounder Fishery Management Plan (FMP) was developed by the NC Division of Marine Fisheries (NCDMF) and the NC Marine Fisheries Commission (NCMFC) with contributions from various advisory committees and team members.

Executive Summary

The Southern Flounder is a significant species for commercial and recreational fisheries along the U.S. South Atlantic coast, particularly in NC. As of 2017, the stock is overfished and overfishing is occurring, necessitating management actions under North Carolina law. Amendment 3 (2022) aimed to reduce catch by 72% to help rebuild the stock, with allocation split favoring commercial fisheries. Amendment 4 proposes to expedite the allocation shift to 50% recreational by 2025 to improve access while adhering to rebuilding requirements.

Stock Status

The South Atlantic Southern Flounder stock has seen a decline in spawning stock biomass (SSB) since 2006. The 2017 assessment showed SSB at 2.3 million pounds, below the sustainability threshold, indicating overfishing and an overfished status. A subsequent update using data through 2022 further affirmed declining trends but suggested some recent improvement in fishing mortality rates.

Fishery Description

Commercially, Southern Flounder catch predominately comes from gill nets and pound nets with variations over the years concerning the predominant gear used. Recreationally, flounder are primarily caught via hook-and-line, with regulations imposed to manage overages, leading to shortened seasons for fishers.

Economic Impacts

The Southern Flounder fishery is crucial for North Carolina's economy, which has seen a dramatic decline in economic contribution in recent years. The commercial sector's participation rate has dropped significantly, impacting the state's overall fisheries economy. On the recreational side, fishing for Southern Flounder impacts several industries indirectly and changes in access may affect the fishing experience and seek alternatives for anglers.

Ecosystem Protection

The health of the Southern Flounder population depends on the quality of its habitat, emphasizing the need for environmental protection measures within the Coastal Habitat Protection Plan, which aims to safeguard nursery areas and regulate harmful fishing practices.

Management Strategy

Amendment 4 includes management measures from Amendment 3 and aims to implement a 50/50 commercial and recreational allocation in 2025. Key strategies include size limits on catches, gear limitations, and regulations to reduce bycatch, while ensuring adherence to sustainability practices to allow for stock recovery in years to come. Future assessments and potential management options will be continuously developed to adapt to changing fishery dynamics.