#Peeler outer banks update

North Carolina law mandates that fishery management plans include measures to end overfishing within two years of adoption and rebuild the stock to achieve sustainable harvest within 10 years of adoption. Overfishing means the removal rate is too high. Overfished means the population is too small. Reductions in harvest are necessary because a recent North Carolina stock assessment for blue crab determined the stock is overfished and overfishing is occurring. The division will not accept public comment through email. Comments must be received by the division by 5 p.m. Mailed Comments – Written comments may be mailed to Blue Crab Comments, P.O Box 769, Morehead City, N.C. 3 through an online format that can be accessed through a link at the bottom of the Blue Crab Information Page.ģ.

Online Comments – Public comments will be accepted until 5 p.m. Public Meetings – public comments on the blue crab management changes will be accepted during the following advisory committee meetings.Ģ. The public may comment on the draft amendment in three ways:ġ.

#Peeler outer banks update

The draft amendment also includes an adaptive management framework that allows the division director to adjust the management measures prior to the next full management plan review if an update of the blue crab stock assessment shows the stock is still overfished and/or overfishing is occurring.ĭetails of the proposed management changes can be found in a Blue Crab Information Page on the division’s website.

Expanding existing spawning sanctuaries and establishing new ones.

Establishing Diamondback Terrapin Management Areas and requiring terrapin excluder devices in pots used in those areas.

Prohibiting crab dredges and reducing the crab bycatch allowance for oyster dredges.

Prohibiting the harvest of sponge crabs year-round and implementing a 3-inch size limit on peeler and soft crabs.

Increasing the number of cull rings required in crab pots and removing all cull ring exempted areas.

Implementing a size limit for mature female crabs and prohibiting the harvest of immature female crabs.

Division of Marine Fisheries is accepting comments from the public on proposed management changes to reduce blue crab harvest in the state to end overfishing and rebuild the overfished stock.ĭraft Amendment 3 to the Blue Crab Fishery Management Plan contains several proposals to achieve sustainable harvest as well as additional blue crab and habitat protection measures.