North Raleigh Today

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality's Division of Marine Fisheries is inviting public input for the development of Amendment 5 to the N.C. Southern Flounder Fishery Management Plan (FMP). A public scoping period will take place from March 1 through March 31, allowing stakeholders to provide feedback on potential management strategies and priorities for the amendment. This period will include four scoping meetings.

According to the division, "While there will be many other opportunities for the public to provide comments on Amendment 5 as it is developed, scoping is the best opportunity for stakeholders to help shape the plan."

Amendment 5 aims to address a motion by the N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission in August 2024 to amend the Southern Flounder FMP. The goal is to allow more recreational access while maintaining rebuilding requirements from Amendment 3. Both Amendments 4 and 5 are being developed concurrently for comprehensive approaches to managing recreational and commercial Southern Flounder.

Starting March 1, feedback can be submitted through an online form available on the division's website or via mail addressed to N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries, Southern Flounder Scoping, P.O. Box 769, Morehead City, N.C. 28557. Comments must be received by March 31 at 5 p.m.

The meeting schedule includes:

- Tuesday, March 4: Archdale Building, Raleigh

- Thursday, March 6: Dare County Administration Building, Manteo

- Tuesday, March 11: DMF Central District Office, Morehead City

- Thursday, March 27: Cape Fear Community College, Wilmington

Meetings will run from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., following an informal open-house format where division staff will be present throughout each session. Participants are encouraged to engage in discussions and share their thoughts without a formal presentation or structured comment period.

Stakeholder input gathered during these meetings will contribute to developing Amendment 5.