Commission joins effort to reduce number of flounder caught off coast
By From staff reports
Published in News on April 26, 2015 1:50 AM
Wayne County commissioners joined a number of other local government bodies in supporting a reduction in the number of flounder caught in coastal waters.
Commissioners last week unanimously approved a resolution calling on the state to reduce the number of fish allowed to be caught by commercial fishermen in order to give the depleted populations of flounder and other species a chance to replenish.
The resolution is being sent to the North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission and expresses concern over the number of spot, croaker, speckled trout, gray trout, and red drum in the ecosystem in addition to the southern flounder.
The resolutions ask that the commission rebuild all the state's estuarine stocks to viable levels beginning, with the southern flounder and then rebuild every estuarine stock that is not currently at "viable" levels.
"I knew this was a big issue to some people, but not until this started did I realize how many local people are frustrated with the way the state has managed these fisheries," Wayne Commissioner Joe Daughtery said.
Bud Abbott, a resident of Alamance County, and president of the Coastal Conservation Association of North Carolina, said that while the CCA endorses such resolutions, the drive to replenish the species is a grassroot effort begun by individuals.
Lenoir County approved the same resolution unanimously, as did Alamance County. Commissioner Linda Sutton of Lenoir County, who enjoys recreational fishing herself, said, "I was more than happy to step up for the saltwater fishermen of this county and all recreational fishermen for that matter."
The current numbers of many species of fish in the state's rivers and sounds is extremely low, wildlife officials say.
"I've been going to the coast most of my adult life and the fishing in Pamlico Sound is the worst it has been in 30 years," said Hain Ficken of Mount Olive. "North Carolina has to do something, and the legislature as a whole, nor the governor has helped the recreational fishermen or the stocks in the past. They are all too focused on making sure commercial fishermen can have fish even if the stocks are not in good shape."
Any citizen who wishes more information for use in their home county can email riverherring@outlook.com for a sample resolution and other useful information.