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ommercial fishermen landed only 154.1 million pounds of fish and shellfish
at North Carolina docks in 2000 -- the second-lowest catch in the last 27 years -- according to figures recently released by the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries.
While the catch was down, the market value soared to the third highest on record at $108.3 million, compared to the previous 5-year average of $105.1 million.
Record-breaking landings of yellowfin tuna, dolphin and southern flounder helped recreational anglers reel in their largest catch in 12 years, with an estimated 21.2 million pounds of fish landed in 2000.
The top five commercial species in 2000 by weight were: Atlantic menhaden, 56.3 million pounds; blue crabs, 38.8 million; shrimp, 10.3 million; Atlantic croaker, 10.1 million; and spiny dogfish sharks, 3.5 million.
Blue crabs and shrimp were by far the most valuable commercial catch. Crabbers were paid $32.1 million for their catch, and shrimpers $25.4 million. Summer and southern flounder brought in $11.6 million last year and hard clams $4.7 million.
The top-five recreational species in 2000 were: yellowfin tuna, 7 million pounds; dolphin, 5.4 million; king mackerel. 1.5 million; spot, 874,743; and bluefish, 665,966.
Commercial landings fluctuate for a variety of reasons --
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availability of fish or shellfish, market conditions, harvest restrictions, shifts in consumer tastes, and overfishing.
Hard blue crabs experienced the most troubling decline last year. Though North Carolina still leads the nation in the production of blue crabs, the catch plummeted to well below the five-year harvest average of 57.1 million pounds. It's unclear if this decrease can be attributed to the impact of Hurricane Floyd.
To see all the catch statistics visit the division's web site at www.ncdmf.net/statistics/index.html. For information on commercial catches call Don Hesselman at 252-726-7021, and for information on recreational landings call Doug Mumford at 252-946-6481.
Flounder size limit increased
The size limit for summer or ocean-caught flounder increased from 15 inches to 15 1/2 inches, effective April 25. The state Division of Marine Fisheries also banned fishing from May 1 - May 14. The 8-fish-per-day bag limit remains unchanged.
Tighter restrictions come on the heels of a recent agreement by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and the National Marine Fisheries Service to reduce East Coast recreational summer flounder landings by 41 percent. For the last five years, recreational fishermen along the Atlantic seaboard have exceeded their harvest target by 22 million
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pounds.
Each state will have to make harvest reductions based on past landings. Decreases range from 57 percent for Rhode Island to 4 percent for Virginia. North Carolina will have to reduce its recreational summer flounder landings by 32 percent.
After reviewing a number of options and giving serious consideration to a two-month season closure, which offered the simplest solution to the problem, Preston Pate, the division's director, decided on the revised size limit and a shorter harvest closure.
The size limit for southern flounder, which is another species of flounder caught primarily in the state's sounds, bays and other internal waters, remains unchanged at 13 inches.
For more information on flounder, contact Rick Monaghan by e-mail at Rick.Monaghan@ncmail.net or by calling 1-800-682-2632 or 252-726-7021.
Red drum plan approved
The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission recently approved a Red Drum Fishery Management Plan that aims to recover North Carolina's official salt
water fish.
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