License & Statistics Section, PO Box 769, Morehead City, NC 28557 April 2014
2013 ANNUAL COMMERCIAL LANDINGS REVIEW
Based on data collected through the N. C. Division of Marine Fisheries Trip Ticket Program, 50.1 million pounds of finfish and shellfish were landed in 2013 with a dockside value of $79 million. This reflects a 12 percent drop in landings when compared with the 2012 harvest but a 9 percent increase in value. Harvest levels for the previous five years averaged 63 million pounds with an average value of $76.7 million dollars.
The top five species by poundage for 2013 were hard blue crabs with 21.3 million pounds, followed by shrimp (4.9 million pounds), spiny dogfish (3 million pounds), southern flounder (2.2 million pounds), and Atlantic croaker (1.9 million pounds). Eighty other species make up the remaining 16.8 million pounds of landings.
Hard crab landings decreased 18 percent from the 2012 landings while peelers and soft blue crabs decreased 5 percent and 2 percent, respectively. Despite the decrease in landings the values increased by 30 percent for both hard crabs and peelers, and 40 percent for soft crabs. Crab dredge and crab trawl trips remained low during 2013 after large decreases were observed for both in 2012.
Shrimp landings decreased by 21 percent in 2013 from the four year high seen in 2012. The landings in 2012 were driven by large increases in landings of pink and white shrimp. Though landings of white shrimp remained high, the landings of pink shrimp were much lower, as were landings of brown shrimp. Shrimp landings value decreased by 3 percent this year from the 2012 value, but increased by 19 percent when compared to the previous four-year average. The 2013 landings decrease coincided with a 9 percent decrease in the number of shrimp trawl trips and a 10 percent increase in the number of skimmer trawl trips compared to 2012.
Landings of spiny dogfish and southern flounder were both at multi-year highs in 2013. Spiny dogfish landings were at a five-year high in 2013 increasing 10 percent over 2012 landings. The value, however, dropped considerably by 53 percent. Southern flounder landings climbed 32 percent over the previous year, to a four-year high.
Landings of Atlantic croaker were down by 38 percent from 2012, the third year of decreased landings. Over the past five years greater than 95 percent of all croaker landings were caught in three gears; flounder trawl, flynet and small mesh gill net. Beginning in 2011 there have been large decreases in flynet gear landings, which is likely a result of continuing navigation issues in Oregon Inlet. Since 2011, however, decreasing small mesh gill net landings have accounted for the continuing decrease in the overall croaker landings. Small mesh gill net landings were at a five-year high in 2011 at 4.4 million pounds, but dropped to only 1.5 million pounds in 2013.
Oyster landings were up 33 percent from the five- year low seen in 2012. Despite the substantial drop in 2012, landings have been relatively high over the last five years. From 2013 to 2009 average landings were 688,237 pounds (130,101 bushels), an approximately 64 percent increase from the previous five-year average (2004 to 2008) of 420,291 pounds (79,450 bushels).
Blue crabs, 21.4M
Shrimp, 4.9 M
Spiny Dogfish, 3.0M
Southern Flounder, 2.2M
Atlantic Croaker, 1.9M
Other Species, 16.8M
2013 Top 5 Species by Poundage
Fish Dealer Report
NORTH CAROLINA DIVISION OF MARINE FISHERIES
NCDMF 2013 Annual Fish Dealer Report
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The Division of Marine Fisheries is dedicated to ensuring sustainable marine
and estuarine fisheries and habitats for the benefit of the people of North Carolina.
Oregon Inlet continued to be an issue during 2013 year. The inlet was dredged at various times during the year but continued shoaling resulted in sporadic usability by the fishing fleet.
For a full listing of pounds and ex-vessel value by species and further information on last year’s landings data see the 2013 Annual Fisheries Bulletin. The bulletin also contains landings for 2009 to 2012 as well as a summary of the number of trips by major gears used in North Carolina.
NEW SOUTHEAST FEDERAL DEALER REPORTING REQUIREMENTS AND UNIVERSAL DEALER PERMIT
NOAA Fisheries published a final rule on April 7 that will implement a new universal dealer permit for federally-managed South Atlantic and Gulf species, as well as new dealer reporting requirements. Both will be effective beginning August 7, 2014.
Currently, the dealer permits required in the Gulf and South Atlantic are based on the species purchased. The new universal dealer permit will replace and consolidate the individual species dealer permits into one permit for both regions, and will add new species that are in three different management plans. The universal dealer permit will apply to the following federally-managed species: South Atlantic snapper grouper, golden crab, rock shrimp; Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico king and Spanish mackerel, and cobia; South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico spiny lobster; Gulf of Mexico reef fish and red drum.
Dealers purchasing federally-managed species under the above plans will be required to report electronically, weekly, by 11:59pm each Tuesday. This is the same reporting frequency, method and timeline required for dealers holding NOAA Fisheries Northeast Region permits.
Dealers with an existing South Atlantic or Gulf of Mexico permit may continue to use their existing permit(s) until they expire, but must adhere to the new reporting requirements (below) beginning August 7, 2014. Dealers without a current South Atlantic or Gulf of Mexico permit may now apply for permits (as of April 9), however, the permit will not be effective until August 7, 2014.
For questions regarding the final rule, please contact Rich Malinowski in the NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office at rich.malinowski@noaa.gov or 727-824-5305.
AN ECONOMIC PROFILE ANALYSIS OF COASTAL COMMERCIAL FISHING COUNTIES IN NORTH CAROLINA
The N. C. Division of Marine Fisheries periodically updates the economic profile analyses that are used during the development of state fishery management plans. The most recent update was to Part 1 of the Economic Profile which describes the economic impact of the fishing industry, species landed and landings by gear in all coastal fishing counties. A brief summary of the information is described below, however, the full report is available on the divisions’ website.
The overall commercial landings for North Carolina were analyzed from 1972 to 2012, while more detailed analyses were done using data from 1994 to 2012 because of improved data quality in the latter years. Landings reached a maximum of 432 million pounds in 1981, and the most profitable year for the state’s fisheries occurred in 1995 when landings were valued at $110 million.
The top three finfish species by weight landed in North Carolina from 1994 to 2012 were Atlantic menhaden, Atlantic croaker, and dogfish sharks. The top three finfish by value were summer flounder, southern flounder, and Atlantic croaker. The top non-finfish species by weight from 1994 to 2012 were hard blue crabs and shrimp. Likewise, landings of hard blue crabs and shrimp were the most valuable non-finfish. The gear types contributing the most to the total pounds landed in North Carolina between 1994 and 2012 include pots, purse seines, gill nets, and trawls. Pots, trawls, and gill nets had the highest values in North Carolina but pots and gill nets made up the majority of the trips.
On a county by county basis, the economic impact was not uniform. It was greatest in Dare and Carteret counties, which led all other counties in landings by weight and value between 1994 and 2012. Carteret County accounted for over 38 percent of the state’s total landings while Dare County had the majority of the total value (26 percent).
To view the full report labeled, “Economic Profile: N. C. Commercial Fishing Industry Pt. 1: Counties” can be found NCDMF 2013 Annual Fish Dealer Report
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The Division of Marine Fisheries is dedicated to ensuring sustainable marine
and estuarine fisheries and habitats for the benefit of the people of North Carolina.
at the following web address http://portal.ncdenr.org/web/mf/marine-fisheries-catch-statistics under the Socioeconomic Reports and Data heading.
COMMERCIAL LICENSE FEES TO INCREASE
The 2013 state budget increased commercial license fees for fiscal year 2014-15 by 25 percent to help pay for the Marine Fisheries At-Sea Observer Program. When you obtain a new or renewal license for the new fiscal year the license fees will be as listed in the table above. In addition, the Atlantic Ocean Striped Bass Commercial Gear Permit was increased from $10 to $30.
FISHERY MANAGEMENT PLAN UPDATES
State law requires the division to prepare a fishery management plan for adoption by the Marine Fisheries Commission for all commercially and recreationally significant species or fisheries in North Carolina. These plans provide management strategies designed to ensure long-term viability of each fishery. State law also requires the N. C. Division of Marine Fisheries to review each plan every five years.
Following are highlights from fishery management plans recently or currently under review.
• At its November 2013 meeting, the commission approved amendments to the Blue Crab and Oyster fishery management plans. Implementing rules became effective April 1.
• At its February 2014 meeting, the commission approved draft amendments to the Bay Scallop, River Herring and Shrimp fishery management plans for departmental and legislative review. The rulemaking process is scheduled to begin at the commission’s May 2014 meeting.
• An amendment to the Striped Mullet Fishery Management Plan is underway. Implementing rules are not expected to become effective until 2016. Amendments to the Oyster and Hard Clam fishery management plans are just beginning.
For more information regarding upcoming fishery management plan reviews, please see the News Releases page at (http://portal.ncdenr.org/web/mf/news-releases).
SOCIOECONOMIC STUDY OF COMMERCIAL FISHING IN THE ALBEMARLE SOUND AND PAMLICO SOUND
The N. C. Division of Marine Fisheries Fisheries Economics Program recently completed an economic and social study examining commercial fishing in the Albemarle Sound and Pamlico Sound. The study sought to describe fishermen’s perceptions of commercial fishing and fisheries management, demographics, and fishing business characteristics, as well as trends in the major commercial fisheries that take place in the two regional water bodies. The final report includes summarized results from surveys conducted with 221 commercial fishermen who use the sounds. Among the findings, the study concluded that based on 2012 seafood landings, commercial fishing in the sounds supported approximately 1,800 full-time and part-time jobs, $26.7 million in labor income, and $60.6 million in total sales in the state’s economy. The results of the study have been used to update the division’s economic impact model for commercial fishing and will be incorporated into the socioeconomic sections of all state fishery management plans. A full copy of the report will be available in May 2014 and can be found by visiting the division’s website at http://portal.ncdenr.org/web/mf/social-economic-data-reports or by contacting John Hadley at john.hadley@ncdenr.gov or (252) 808-8107.
NCDMF 2013 Annual Fish Dealer Report
4
The Division of Marine Fisheries is dedicated to ensuring sustainable marine
and estuarine fisheries and habitats for the benefit of the people of North Carolina.
NEW LOOK FOR COMMERCIAL LICENSES
Commercial licenses will look a little different this year due to the division switching to new license formats. For dealers, the biggest change took place last year with the new SCFL hard cards and large format dealer certificate. This year, commercial vessel owners will receive a new vessel decal and wallet size tear-out license card. Most other commercial licenses will be printed on a durable clean-release wallet size card. We think you will like the new look and welcome your feedback.
NEW FEDERAL RULE PROPOSED FOR BAG LIMIT SALES OF KING AND SPANISH MACKEREL
The National Marine Fisheries Service has issued a proposed rule regarding king and Spanish mackerel that prohibits the sale of fish caught under the recreational bag limit harvested from federal waters unless the vessel holds a federal commercial king or Spanish mackerel permit. Currently, N. C. fishermen with a Standard Commercial Fishing License may harvest up to the bag limit of both species from either state or federal waters and sell those bag limit quantities without a federal commercial vessel permit. The permit for Spanish mackerel is open access and can be obtained for a cost of $25, while the permit for king mackerel is limited entry and available to existing permit holders only. There are two additional provisions in the proposed rule: The first allows for sale of fish from state-permitted recreational fishing tournaments (if all proceeds are donated to charity), and the second eliminates the existing income requirements to obtain/renew the federal commercial permits for these species. Please go to the NOAA Fisheries Bulletin FB14-021(http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/fishery_bulletins/documents/pdfs/2014/fb14-021_cmp_am20_pr.pdf) for more information.
LICENSE SALES
JULY 1, 2013 to APRIL 22, 2014
Below are sales as of April 22, 2013 by license type for the 2014 license year. The values below Include active licenses only. Totals do not include transfers, replacements or voids.
Standard Commercial Fishing License
5,006
Retired Standard Commercial Fishing License
1,170
Commercial Fishing Vessel Registration
8,117
License to Land Flounder from Atlantic Ocean
157
Land or Sell License
82
NC Resident Shellfish License Without SCFL
1,374
Fish Dealer License
732
Ocean Pier License
19
Recreational Fishing Tournament License
15
Recreational Commercial Gear License
3,972
Total Licenses For All License Types
20,644
Licenses for license year 2015 (July 1, 2014 – June 30, 2015) went on sale April 15 and renewal by mail is available. If you want to avoid the lines at the license office, please use the mail-in process.
NCMFC Business Meeting Schedule for the Remainder of 2014
May 21-23: Clam Digger Inn
Pine Knoll Shores, NC
August 20-22: Brownstone Hotel
Raleigh, NC
November 19-21: To Be Determined
The new hard card front (top image) and back (bottom image) are shown above. Instead of a new card being issued when a license is renewed, a security decal will be placed on the back of the card with the new expiration date displayed. This decal can be seen here in the bottom left hand corner on the back of the hard card.