State to Close Spotted Seatrout Harvest
January 14, 2011
North Carolina will close all coastal waters to commercial and recreational spotted seatrout harvest for an indefinite period beginning at noon Friday.
The action is being taken in response to recent cold stun events in Rose Bay, Juniper Bay, Pungo River, Campbell Creek, Turnigan Bay, Spooners Creek and other waters. The intent of the closure is to prevent the harvest of vulnerable cold stunned fish, which may recover with warming temperatures. The Marine Fisheries Commission will review the closure and consider extending it at their February 11th meeting in Pine Knoll Shores.
For more information, contact division biologist, Beth Burns at Beth.Burns@ncdenr.gov.
