Striped Mullet FMP - NC Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources
Striped Mullet FMP - NC Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources
Striped Mullet FMP - NC Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources
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estoration are essential to accomplish the goal <strong>and</strong> objectives <strong>of</strong> this plan.2) Fishing issues: The bycatch <strong>of</strong> striped mullet in commercial fishing gear wasquantified by analyzing fishery-dependent data, fishery-independent data, <strong>and</strong> DMF Trip Ticketdata. From this it appears that the bycatch <strong>of</strong> striped mullet is not a major concern for NorthCarolina fishery managers at this time. A possession limit <strong>of</strong> 200 mullets (white <strong>and</strong> striped inaggregate) per person in the recreational fishery is recommended. The intent is to eliminateanglers from taking large amounts <strong>of</strong> bait mullets from North Carolina <strong>and</strong> selling them in otherstates without impinging on normal fishing practices. A possession limit in the recreationalfishery allows Marine Patrol to distinguish between a commercial <strong>and</strong> a recreational fishingoperation. Additionally, given the low fishing mortality on striped mullet juveniles estimated fromthe 2004 stock assessment, there is currently no biological urgency to reduce the recent levels<strong>of</strong> striped mullet bait harvest.3) User conflicts: The change in inshore striped mullet fishing practices from traditional,passive soak nets to active tower boats with runaround nets has created conflicts with marinas<strong>and</strong> shoreline residents. Setting <strong>of</strong> gill nets around private piers <strong>and</strong> in restricted navigationareas <strong>and</strong> disruptive practices associated with night fishing have resulted in charges against thestriped mullet fishermen <strong>of</strong> impeding navigation <strong>and</strong> disturbing the peace. The situation hasresulted in petitions for rulemaking asking the MFC for varying degrees <strong>of</strong> gill net exclusion fromspecific areas. This plan recommends that inshore gill net conflicts continue to be h<strong>and</strong>led on acase-by-case basis <strong>and</strong> implement management actions to address specific fishery relatedproblems. User conflicts in the Atlantic Ocean striped mullet beach seine fishery have existedalong Bogue Banks since the mid 1980s <strong>and</strong> have involved allocation issues betweencommercial gill netters <strong>and</strong> the stop net crews, <strong>and</strong> between the ocean fishing pier owners, pierpatrons <strong>and</strong> stop net crews. Although not as intense as in years past, these confrontations stilloccur. It was recommended that the MFC adopt gill net restrictions on Bogue Banks currently inproclamation as Rule. As <strong>of</strong> April, 2006, due to the sale <strong>of</strong> two <strong>of</strong> the three subject oceanfishing piers, proclamation authority needs to be maintained. It is premature to put the stop netproclamation measures into Rule because <strong>of</strong> the upcoming NMFS Bottlenose Dolphin TakeReduction Plan (BDTRP) restrictions <strong>and</strong> the changing nature <strong>of</strong> the beach seine mullet fishery.Flexibility needs to be maintained for stop net setting sites <strong>and</strong> gear parameters.2