Striped Mullet FMP - NC Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources

40%Pamlico S. Neuse R. Core S.Inland Waterway Ocean < 3 mi.35%Percent of total gear30%25%20%15%10%5%0%1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002YearFigure 6.17. Yearly percentage of total runaround gill net striped mullet landings by majorwaterbody: 1994 - 2002.Set gill netsSet gill nets have also risen in importance since 1972, although its proportion of the totallandings has not increased since the mid 1980s (Figure 6.18). Two types of set nets arerecorded by NCTTP, floating and sinking gill nets. Sinking set gill nets are defined as stationarygill nets with the top line below the surface of the water (NCTTP 2002). Striped mullet landingsfrom floating set nets have declined, while sinking set nets have fluctuated without trend since1994 (Figure 6.19). Most set gill nets for mullet are set from top to bottom in the water column,so fishermen and dealers may sometimes arbitrarily report landings as either gill net (float) orgill net (sink) on trip tickets without recognition of the set net definitions provided by NCTTP.Trip ticket inaccuracy by dealers with respect to floating and sinking set nets is a potentialcaveat to consider, although its magnitude is unknown. Floating and sinking set gill netlandings are combined in the ensuing description of the set gill net fishery.40