NC meeting on stripe bass open to public

[weekender]

here is an email I just received 2/9/11 about striped bass in NC waters, please attend the meeting if possible.

"I am writing in response to your e-mail regarding your concerns about North Carolina’s striped bass fishery.



The ocean striped bass commercial trawl fishery is currently closed in North Carolina and will not reopen until after the N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission meets this week. The commission is slated to review the striped bass incidents that occurred, the state’s response to them and what direction to take in management of this fishery.



The commission meets Feb. 10-11 at the Clam Digger Inn, 511 Salter Path Road, Pine Knoll Shores. The meeting is open to the public, and I encourage you to attend. Public comment periods are set for 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 10 and 8:15 a.m. Friday, Feb. 11.



The commission will be informed of the numerous e-mails and phone calls the Division of Marine Fisheries has received regarding this issue.



I also anticipate putting out a news release following the meeting, most likely early next week. You may look for it on the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries website at http://www.ncfisheries.net/ under the News & Information link."

[gottaflylee]

Here is a little more of what it planed for this meeting, hope to see some of you there...



Review of a stock assessment for the Central/Southern Striped Bass Management Area of the state. The assessment could not determine the stock status for the fishery because there is not yet enough data.



MARINE FISHERIES COMMISSION BUSINESS MEETING
Clam Digger Inn in Pine Knoll Shores, N.C.

February 10-11, 2011

Feb. 10

6 p.m. Public Meeting

Receive public comment relative to fisheries management issues


Feb.11

8 a.m. Call to Order*
Pledge of Allegiance
Invocation
Conflict of Interest Reminder
Roll Call
Approval of Agenda**
Approval of Meeting Minutes**
8:15 a.m. Public Comment
Receive public comment relative to fisheries management issues
8:45 a.m. Issues from Commissioners
9 a.m. Chairman’s Report
Review administrative actions and issues from the chair
· Letters
· Advisory Committee Appointments
9:15 a.m. Committee Reports
Review and consideration of action items from advisory committee and committee meetings
· Coastal Recreational Fishing License
· MFC/WRC Joint Coastal Recreational Fishing License
9:30 a.m. Striped Bass – Louis Daniel and Kathy Rawls
Review and consideration of the Division of Marine Fisheries’ response to the mid-January striped bass event off of Dare County
10 a.m. Spotted Seatrout – Louis Daniel and Beth Burns
Review and consideration of the Division of Marine Fisheries’ closure of the spotted seatrout fishery in response to recent cold stun events, including the prohibiting of harvest of cold stunned fish with dip nets
10:30 a.m. Southern Flounder FMP Supplement A – Chris Batsavage
Review supplement process and selection of management options
· Vote on Approving Supplement**
· Vote on Implementing Management Measures via Proclamation**
11 a.m. Striped Bass FMP Amendment 1
Review and consideration of the Division of Marine Fisheries’ stock assessment for striped bass in the Central/Southern Management Area
· Central/Southern Striped Bass Stock Assessment – Helen Takade Heumacher
Noon Blue Crab FMP Amendment 2 – David Taylor
Review timeline and approve FMP goals and objectives
· Vote on Goals and Objectives**
12:30 p.m. Lunch Recess
1:30 p.m. Rule Suspensions – David Taylor
The commission must vote to continue suspension of any rules the Division of Marine Fisheries Director has suspended by proclamation.
· Vote on Rule Suspension for Spotted Seatrout**
· Vote on Rule Suspension for Gill Net Yardage Restrictions**
1:45 p.m. Rulemaking Update – Catherine Blum
· 2010/2011 Cycle
· 2011/2012 Cycle
2 p.m. Federal Aid Report – Kelly Price
2:30 p.m. Director’s Report
Reports and updates on recent Division of Marine Fisheries activities.
· Legislative Update
· Budget Update
· Oyster Season Update – Mike Marshall
· Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission
- Striped Bass
- Spiny Dogfish
- American Shad
· For-Hire License Update – Don Hesselman
· Protected Resources Update – Red Munden
- Observer Program Update
- Revised Sea Turtle Settlement Agreement
- Revised Incidental Take Permit
- Atlantic Sturgeon
· Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council Update – Red Munden
· South Atlantic Fishery Management Council Update – Brian Cheuvront
- Bang Stick Prohibition Request
· Other Reports
- Marine Patrol Report
- Coastal Recreational Fishing License Sales Report
- Coastal Angler Program Update
- Red Drum Quota Update
3:45 p.m. Issues from Commissioners
4 p.m. Adjourn