The North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission is set to convene from May 21 to May 23 at the Beaufort Hotel, located at 2440 Lennoxville Road in Beaufort, N.C. The proceedings will be available for viewing via a YouTube livestream.
The meeting schedule includes sessions starting at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, May 21, and at 9 a.m. on both Thursday, May 22, and Friday, May 23. Public comment periods are scheduled for Wednesday evening and Thursday morning.
For those attending in person who wish to provide comments, sign-up will be available at the venue before each session begins. To ensure all voices are heard, speakers will have a maximum of three minutes each and may only speak once during the two public comment sessions.
Individuals wishing to distribute handouts should bring at least twelve copies for the commission’s review. Additionally, written comments can be submitted online through the Marine Fisheries Commission Meetings webpage or mailed to P.O. Box 769, Morehead City, N.C. 28557. Submissions can also be dropped off at the Division of Marine Fisheries’ office in Morehead City. The deadline for written comments is Monday, May 19 at 4 p.m.
During this meeting, the commission plans to vote on several key issues: preferred management options for the Southern Flounder Fishery Management Plan Amendment 4; final adoption of amendments to both the Eastern Oyster and Hard Clam Fishery Management Plans; and rulemaking notices related to permits and shellfish leases.
Additional agenda items include updates on Blue Crab Fishery Management Plan Amendment 3 Adaptive Management and presentations concerning economic analysis in fishery management plan development. Researchers from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill will also present on submerged aquatic vegetation.
For more details including a full agenda and access to the live stream link, visit the Marine Fisheries Commission Meetings webpage.
