Draft Fishery Management Plan for Spotted Seatrout in North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission Meeting Kitty Hawk March 24, 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.

Unit Stock Definition Most remain in natal estuary throughout life cycle Limited tagging in NC Minimal evidence of mixture between NC/SC 15% of seatrout recaptured in VA tagging study were recovered in NC NC and VA considered a unit stock Management unit is NC only

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 ( ) 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

Interim Rules  assessment showed stock is: Overfished, overfishing occurring  While assessment was in the process of being updated: Interim management measures were implemented to ensure the viability of the stock while the FMP was being developed 14” size limit (effective October 5, 2009) Additional changes through the FMP process

Spotted Seatrout Distribution Range - MA to Mexico ASMFC - East coast GSMFC - Gulf coast Regional management; Florida and Gulf of Mexico based on genetic stocks (not yet available in NC) Entire life cycle estuarine

Life History  Fast growing First year, males reach ~ 10 inches, females ~ 13 inches  Early maturity 98% females mature at 14 inches  Very fecund 3-20 million ova per year depending on age, length, water temp  Protracted spawning season April through October, peak May and June, repeated spawning

Habitat and Water Quality Use habitats throughout the estuaries and occasionally the coastal ocean Found in most habitats identified by the NC Coastal Habitat Protection Plan (CHPP): –Water column, wetlands, soft bottom, shell bottom, and submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) –SAV is critical to all life history stages Habitat protection is critical to sustainability of stock FMP identifies a number of habitat research needs –Most can be implemented by DMF/MFC as CHPP related actions.

Habitat and Water Quality Research Recommendations Identify coastal habitats utilized by juveniles and assess relationship between changes in recruitment success and changes in habitat conditions Expand juvenile sampling programs to include SAV bed sampling in high/low salinity areas from July through September Evaluate the role of shell hash and shell bottom in recruitment and survival, particularly where SAV is absent

Habitat and Water Quality Research Recommendations Determine location and significance of spawning aggregation sites throughout the coast Evaluate the role of SAV in the spawning success Determine if designation of spawning areas by MFC is needed, and if specific protective measures should be developed Define overwintering habitat requirements

Socioeconomic Factors Recreational Fishery – Economic impact of spotted seatrout-landing recreational angling trips was $49.5 million, 2008 –Occasionally caught by holders of the Recreational Commercial Gear License (RCGL) –Economic impact of spotted seatrout-landing RCGL trips was $3 million in 2008

Socioeconomic Factors Commercial Fishery –Small component of commercial fishery, never exceeding 3% of value of finfish landed overall in the state –Seasonally important in some years; accounted for 6% of the value of estuarine finfish landed Oct-Dec 2008 –Important to a limited number of individuals who target spotted seatrout seasonally (winter) –Price per pound has not changed appreciably over the past 35 years, and risen to over $1.50 per pound since 2003 –The economic impact of the commercial harvest to NC’s economy was $3.9 million, 2008

Spotted Seatrout Harvest (Average Lb) By Sector (NC, )

Recreational Fishery Most popular target species in South Atlantic since 2005 Most popular target species in NC since 2006 Inshore and near-shore oceanic waters Shore, private boat, charter/guide services Taken with a variety methods –Live bait –Artificial lures –Trolling

Atlantic Coast Recreational Landings

Recreational Observations by County (NC, )

Recreational Observations by Water Location (NC, )

North Carolina Recreational Harvest

Virginia Recreational Harvest

Recreational Number of Live Releases

North Carolina Recreational Seasonal Distribution of Harvest 54% 18% 11% 3%

Coastwide Commercial Landings (Connecticut – Florida east coast)

Atlantic Coast Commercial Landings, by State

Commercial Landings

Commercial Harvest by Area

Commercial Landings by Month, NC only

Commercial Landings by Gear

AverageTrip Frequency NC Commercial Harvest,

Average Total Pounds NC Commercial Harvest,

Percent of Total NC Commercial Harvest trips > 500 lbs only

Issues Addressed in the FMP Achieving sustainable harvest Enforcement of size, creel limit and gear regulations in Joint, Coastal or Inland Fishing Waters Management measures to address user group competition Impacts of cold stun events on the population

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 Biomass Overfished Status

Fishing Mortality By Sector Overfishing Status

Management Options Modify size limits (size limits alone not likely to achieve reduction necessary/would have to be combined with other options) –Increase minimum size –Establish maximum size (slot limits) –Establish maximum size (slot limits) with a trophy fish Establish trip/creel limits (Trip/creel limits alone are not likely to achieve the reduction necessary/would have to be combined with other options) Sustainable Harvest

Other Management Options Considered Area Closures Seasonal Closures Quotas Gear Restrictions Limited Entry Sustainable Harvest

AC Recommendation  End overfishing ½ way; 14-inch minimum size, 6 fish bag limit, and 200-lb trip limit DMF Recommendation  End overfishing ½ way; 14-inch minimum size, 6 fish bag limit, and refer to suite of options

Suite of Options

Suite of Options (continued)

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 MFC Joint/Coastal 12-inch minimum size ( ) 14-inch minimum size (10/2009) 10 fish creel limit commercial and recreational WRC Inland 12-inch minimum size 10 fish creel limit hook and line only gamefish status

Enforcement AC Recommendation  Marine Patrol officers be given general police authority  Develop mutual aid agreement between DMF Marine Patrol and WRC Wildlife Enforcement officers for Inland Fishing Waters. DMF Recommendation  Develop mutual aid agreement between DMF Marine Patrol and WRC Wildlife Enforcement officers for Inland Fishing Waters.

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.

User Group Competition

Potential Management Options: Status quo Mediation Estuarine small mesh gill net fisheries regulations Seasonal closure for gillnet and recreational fishermen Day of week closure for gillnet and recreational fishermen User Group Competition

AC & DMF Recommendation:  Move forward with the mediation policy process to resolve conflict

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?

Critical Temperature

Mortality

Spawning Stock Biomass

Recruitment

Cold Stun Events AC Recommendation  Status quo with the assumption the director will intervene in case of a catastrophic event and do what is necessary in terms of temporary closures by water body. The proclamation needs to be an informed decision based on quantifiable data and outcome needs to be quantified post- closure.  DMF research on cold stun events DMF Recommendation  Give sustainable harvest options the opportunity to work in rebuilding stock to 20% SPR so the SSB is large enough to recover more easily from cold stun events.  Research on cold stun events

Closing the Gig Fishery December 1 st –March 31 st 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 December 1 st – March 31 st

Gig Landings Year Gig Landings Total Commercial Landings Percent of Total Landings Number of Fish 20066,603312, ,321374,70135, ,391304, ,131 Total26,314991,

Gig Harvest, by Area Area Total Bogue Sound1,7235,3383,61110,672 Masonboro Sound2,1212,8442,1767,141 Topsail Sound2,6892,6002,0627,351 Other ,150 Total (All Areas)6,60311,3218,39126,314 Number of Fishermen Number of Trips

Gig Harvest, by Month

Gig Fishery Summary Current Gig Regulations –Red drum cannot be harvested by gigs High discard mortality rate Closure would result in a minor decrease in fishing mortality Disproportionally affects fishermen from Bogue, Masonboro and Topsail sounds

Gig Fishery AC Recommendation  No gigging from December 1 st through March 31 st, annually DMF Recommendation  Status quo. DMF to continue to track contributions of gigs to overall landings

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 NC 4.Conduct area-specific spawning surveys 5.Investigate relationship of temperature with juvenile and adult mortality

Research Needs 6.Define overwintering habitat requirements 7.Study impacts of cold stun events 8.Develop model to predict/estimate the impact of cold stun events on local and statewide abundances 9.Investigate distribution in nursery and non-nursery areas

Research Needs 11.Further research on possible influences of salinity on release mortality 12.Microchemistry, genetic, or tagging studies to verify migration patterns, mixing rates, or origins between NC & VA 13.Tagging studies to verify estimates of natural and fishing mortality 14.Tagging studies to determine if there are localized populations within NC 15.A longer time series and additional sources of fishery independent information

Research Needs 16.Increased observer coverage in a variety of commercial fisheries, and over a wider area 17.Continue collecting fishery dependent information to describe the size and age structure of harvested population 18.Investigate the distribution in Inland Fishing Waters 19.Survey of fishing effort in creeks with conflict complaints 20.Determine targeted species in nursery areas and creeks with conflict complaints

Acknowledgements Spotted Seatrout AC Dr. Peter Finkelstein, co-chair Joseph Lee Stone, co-chair Jamey Copeland Sammy Corbett Tim Ellis Mike Holleman Brian Horsley Ricky Kellum I.D. Midgett, Jr. Hubert Parrott William “Jerry” Warren Spotted Seatrout PDT Beth Burns, co-lead Chip Collier, co-lead Chris Batsavage Christopher Bennett Alan Bianchi Dr. Brian Boutin Dr. Scott Crosson Christine Jensen Doug Mumford Chris Wilson Bennett Wynne