From: justmo
Date: 3/26/2021
Time: 6:30:29 AM
Make your voices heard for everything it's worth.
MFC MEETING POSTPONED!
Thanks to the overwhelming public comment supporting a more equitable rebuilding plan for Southern flounder, the N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission Meeting scheduled for Thursday was postponed.
The people spoke up and your message was heard! The message from the angling and conservation communities calling for a Southern flounder rebuilding plan that considers input from the fishing public that owns our public trust resources has finally resonated with our state's fisheries managers.
Commission Chairman Rob Bizzell contacted commission members Thursday morning to share his decision to revisit the flounder allocation decision made during the February 2021 MFC meeting. Chairman Bizzell has called a special meeting to be held on Wednesday, March 31 at 1 p.m. via webinar to revisit the allocation issue. Links and other information on the March 31 meeting to reconsider southern flounder allocation will be announced later.
Thursday's meeting had been scheduled for the commission to review and vote on sending the draft Southern Flounder Fishery Management Plan Amendment 3 for public and advisory committee review. The review and vote will be rescheduled during or after the March 31 meeting.
No word yet on whether public comment will reopen, but we do not need to let up. Please continue to contact your MFC commissioners and elected officials to push for the rebuilding of our depleted fish stocks, and an end to the use of destructive gear and overfishing of our coastal marine resources.