The North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries has opened public comments on the Draft Estuarine Striped Bass Fishery Management Plan Amendment 2.  

The Marine Fisheries Commission is scheduled to consider public comments and advisory committee input and select its preferred management measures for departmental and legislative review at its May business meeting and consider final approval of the amendment in August.

The draft amendment, which can be found at this link, was jointly developed with Wildlife Resources Commission staff.  

Amendment 2 contains a suite of management options to address sustainable harvest in the Albemarle Sound and Roanoke River management areas and the Tar-Pamlico, Neuse, and Cape Fear rivers.  

Consideration of management for hook and line as a commercial gear is also included.

A companion document includes the division and Wildlife Resources Commission staff's initial recommendations and rationale.  

More information is also available at this link 

The public may submit comments on the Draft Estuarine Striped Bass Fishery Management Plan Amendment 2 through an online questionnaire or through mail:

Submit Online Comments: Public comments will be accepted through an online form until 5 p.m. on April 1 via this link

Mail Comments: Written comments may be mailed to Draft Estuarine Striped Bass FMP Amendment 2 Comments, PO Box 769, Morehead City, NC. 28557.  Comments must be received by 5 p.m. on April 1

Emailed comments will not be accepted.