Draft Fishery Management Plan for Spotted Seatrout in North Carolina

N.C. Marine Fisheries CommissionNew Bern

November 4, 2010

FMP GOAL

Determine the status of the stock and ensure long-term sustainability for the spotted seatrout stock in North Carolina

FMP Objectives

1. Develop an objective management program that provides conservation of the resource and sustainable harvest in the fishery

2. Ensure the spawning stock is of sufficient capacity to prevent recruitment-overfishing

3. Address socio-economic concerns for all user groups

FMP Objectives (cont)

4. Restore, improve, and protect important habitats that affect growth, survival, and reproduction of the stock.

5. Evaluate, enhance, and initiate studies to increase understanding of spotted seatrout biology and population dynamics in North Carolina.

6. Promote public awareness regarding the status and management of the stock.

Status of the Stock

• Age based statistical model• 2009 stock assessment indicated the spotted

seatrout stock in NC/VA has been overfished and overfishing occurring throughout the entire 18-year time series (1991-2008)

• Spawning Potential Ratio (SPR) is a measurement of the spawning potential of a population after the impacts of fishing mortality

• SPRs are below the DMF benchmark threshold and ASMFC recommended criteria of 20%

FMP Purpose

Recommend or maintain management measures that prevent overfishing and provide the long-term sustainable harvest for the fishery

Areas to be addressed:• Habitat and water quality• Socioeconomic factors• Management strategies• Insufficient data and research needs

Issues Addressed in the FMP

• Achieving sustainable harvest • Impacts of cold stun events on the

population • Enforcement of size, creel limit and gear

regulations in joint, coastal or inland fishing waters

• Management measures to address user group competition

• Closing the gig fishery Dec. - March 31

Sustainable Harvest

Background• 2009 stock assessment indicated the stock in NC/VA has

been overfished and overfishing has been occurring throughout the 18-year time series.

Issue• Establish harvest reductions that achieve sustainable

harvest by rebuilding the spawning stock biomass above the threshold level and end overfishing within 10 years.

Spawning Stock BiomassOverfished Status

1991

1993

1995

1997

1999

2001

2003

2005

2007

0

200,000

400,000

600,000

800,000

1,000,000

1,200,000

1,400,000

1,600,000

SSB Threshold (F20%)

YearSpa

wni

ng S

tock

Bio

mas

s (lb

)

Fishing Mortality By SectorOverfishing Status

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

0.00.20.40.60.81.01.21.41.61.8

Year

Aver

age

Fish

ing

Mor

talit

y

Sustainable Harvest

Size Bag Limit

14 " 57%

REBUILD STOCK WITHIN 10 YEARSEND OVERFISHING IMMEDIATELY

REDUCTION REQUIRED

2 fish 50 lbs

Trip Limit MANAGEMENT OPTIONS

Sustainable Harvest

28.5%

28.5%

REQUIREDREDUCTION MANAGEMENT OPTIONS

COMMERCIAL FISHERY

Minimum Size (TL)

14 "

RECREATIONAL FISHERYREDUCTION REQUIRED

MANAGEMENT OPTIONS Minimum Size (TL)

14 "

Sustainable Harvest

29.0%

29.7%• Weekend Closure- no possession on weekends November-February: all gear out of water (including RCGL)

• 6 fish bag limit

Commercial Fishery MANAGEMENT OPTIONS % REDUCTION

14-inch minimum size limit and:

Recreational Fishery MANAGEMENT OPTIONS % REDUCTION

14-inch minimum size limit and:

1/2 REDUCTION NEEDED TO END OVERFISHING - ASSESS IN 5 YRS

Sustainable HarvestDMF SST AC MFC

• ½ reduction needed, 6 fish recreational bag, 14-inch minimum size for recreational and commercial , and weekend closure for commercial gears (no possession on weekends), gear will need to be removed on weekends, November-February

• Western Albemarle Sound and Currituck Sound exempt from weekend gear removal

• Same as DMF (commercial & recreational)

• Promote the use of barbless hooks

• No use of gill nets as RCGL gear to harvestspotted seatrout

•½ reduction needed, 6 fish recreational bag, 14-inch minimum size for recreational and commercial, and weekend closure for commercial gears year-round (no possession on weekends).

• commercial gear will be allowed to remain in the water on the weekends

• A maximum of 3 fish over 24 inches for recreational fishermen

• small mesh net attendance requirement is extended to include weekends, December through February

Recreational = 29.0% Commercial = 29.7%

Same as DMF Recreational = 29.0%Commercial = 13-26%

Sustainable Harvest (cont)

DMF SST AC MFC

• Regulations need to be in place for a minimum of 3 years to assess their effectiveness. The 5 year FMP review schedule needs tobe adhered to

• The matter should be revisited within 3 years due to problems with the stock assessment model (ie., inability to account for mortality associated with cold stun, and lack of a stock recruit relationship)

•The matter should be revisited within 3 years to determine if sustainable harvest measures are working

Cold Stun Events

Background• Death of large numbers of spotted seatrout following severe cold

spells has been well documented. Periodic increases in mortality associated with cold stuns should be considered when implementing management measures.

Issue• Periodic increases in mortality associated with cold stun events can

have a negative impact on population size. Should information and quantification of cold stun events be considered for incorporation into fisheries models and/or management decisions?

Impacts of Cold Stun Events on the Population

DMF SST AC MFC

• Give the sustainable harvest options the opportunity to work in rebuilding the stock to 20% SPR

• Status quo with the assumption that the director will intervene in the event of a catastrophic event and do what is necessary in terms of temporary closures by water body, but the director’s proclamation needs to be an informed decision based on quantifiable data and the outcome needs to be quantified post the closure

• Remain status quo with the assumption that the director will intervene in the event of a catastrophic event and do what is necessary in terms of temporary closures by waterbody

Impacts of Cold Stun Events on the Population (cont)

DMF SST AC MFC

• More extensive research on cold stun events (DMF, universities, etc)

• Same as DMF • Same as DMF

Enforcement

Background• MFC is responsible for managing, protecting,

preserving and enhancing marine and estuarine resources, while WRC is responsible for regulating fishing activities in inland waters.

Issue• Improving compliance with and agency

enforcement of management measures in joint and coastal or inland fishing waters

Enforcement of Size, Creel Limit and Gear Regulations in Joint, Coastal or Inland Fishing

WatersDMF SST AC MFC

• Development of a mutual aid agreement between DMF Marine Patrol and WRC enforcement officers for inland fishing waters.

• Same as DMF • Same as DMF

User Group Competition

Background• Commercial gill net and recreational hook and line

fishermen have been in competition for seatrout, and in some instances, competition has escalated to conflict.

Issue• Determine management measures to reduce conflicts

between recreational and gill net fisheries

Management Measures to address User Group Competition

DMF SST AC MFC

• Move forward with the mediation policy process to resolve conflict between spotted seatrout fishermen

• Same as DMF • Same as DMF

Closing the Gig Fishery December 1 – March 31

Background• Operates in areas where water is clear during

the cold winter months and fish are lethargic Issue• AC voted for a closure of the commercial gig

fishery Dec. 1 – March 31

Use of Gigs to Harvest Spotted Seatrout December-March

DMF SST AC MFC

• Status quo. DMF to continue to track contributions of gigs to overall landings

• Same as DMF • Same as DMF

Research Needs

1. Develop juvenile abundance index for better understanding of stock recruitment relationship

2. Research the feasibility of including measures of temperature or salinity into stock-recruitment relationship

3. Determine batch fecundity estimates for NC4. Conduct area-specific spawning surveys5. Investigate relationship of temperature with juvenile and

adult mortality

Research Needs

6. Define overwintering habitat requirements7. Study impacts of cold stun events 8. Develop model to predict/estimate the impact of

cold stun events on local and statewide abundances9. Investigate distribution in nursery and non-nursery

areas10. Further research on possible influences of salinity

on release mortality

Research Needs

11. Microchemistry, genetic, or tagging studies to verify migration patterns, mixing rates, or origins between NC & VA

12. Tagging studies to verify estimates of natural and fishing mortality

13. Tagging studies to determine if there are localized populations within NC

14. A longer time series and additional sources of fishery independent information

Research Needs

15. Increased observer coverage in a variety of commercial fisheries, and over a wider area

16. Continue collecting fishery dependent information to describe the size and age structure of harvested population

17. Investigate the distribution in Inland Fishing Waters 18. Survey of fishing effort in creeks with conflict

complaints19. Determine targeted species in nursery areas and

creeks with conflict complaints

Comments/Recommendations?