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Commission expedites southern flounder sector split, adopts Amendment 4 amid wider amendment 5 debate
Summary
The Marine Fisheries Commission voted to expedite a sector allocation shift for southern flounder to a 50/50 commercial/recreational split for 2025 (Amendment 4). Commissioners discussed long-running concerns about coastwide rebuilding obligations and signaled a broader Amendment 5 process to reexamine allocation, gears and season timing.
The North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission on a roll-call vote adopted Amendment 4 to expedite the sector allocation transition for southern flounder to 50% commercial and 50% recreational for 2025, moving the originally scheduled 2026 shift up one year. Jeffrey Dobbs, FMP coordinator, told the commission the expedited shift would add roughly 53,000 pounds to the recreational allocation in 2025 to reduce the risk of overages and slightly increase recreational access for the short term.
Commissioners debated the amendment’s limits and next steps. Supporters said the change reduces the immediate risk of recreational season overages and buys time while the division develops Amendment 5, a more comprehensive review of allocation, seasons and gear. Opponents warned the coastwide rebuilding target (a 72% reduction from 2017 landings) constrains all options and noted that other states have not adopted comparable reductions, which makes North Carolina’s rebuilding burden heavier.
The motion to adopt Amendment 4 was made on the floor and carried in a roll-call vote (recorded votes in the transcript produced five yes votes, two no votes and one abstention). Staff emphasized Amendment 4 was a short-term allocation adjustment; longer-term questions — including phasing out certain gears, adjusting commercial suballocations, and exploring single-species or region-specific approaches — will be addressed in Amendment 5.
Amendment 5 scoping, which staff summarized after the vote, will examine topics brought up in public scoping and by commissioners: separating southern flounder from other left‑eyed flounders, altering season timing (including possible ocean seasons to reduce derby pressure on fall runs), modifying commercial suballocations and trip limits, and adaptive management mechanisms. Staff said they will develop a timeline for Amendment 5, solicit FMP Advisory Committee members and bring draft options to an FMPAC workshop for refinement before returning to the commission.
What’s next: staff will complete the Amendment 4 administrative steps and begin drafting Amendment 5 options for public and advisory review; any new regulatory change under Amendment 5 will require the typical issue‑paper/fiscal‑analysis and public comment steps before adoption.
