N.C. Estuarine Dependent Fishand Fisheries

About the N.C. Coastal Federation

• Founded 1982

• 16,000 Supporters

• 30 staff members

• 30 board members

• 20 county coverage

Biogeographical Advantagesfor NC Fish/Fisheries

Geographically positioned atthe boundary of two large marineecosystems; both northern andsouthern species present

Gulf Stream relatively closeoffshore

Significant area of lagoon estuaries (Albemarle, Bogue, Core and Pamlico Sounds) which serve as nursery area for US east coast; largest estuarine ecosystem (2.3 million

acres) of any single East Coast state Significant diversity and number of river basins

Inshore Habitats

Riverine spawning habitats for anadromous species (Alewife, American Shad, Atlantic Sturgeon, Blueback Herring, Hickory Shad, Shortnose Sturgeon, Striped Bass) Extensive area of Primary Nursery Area (PNA) habitats; regularly- and irregularly-flooded tidal marshes and tidal creeks Extensive area of Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV) in

sounds Extensive area of Secondary Nursery Area in sounds

Subtidal oyster reef habitats in estuaries

NC Mapped Fish Habitats in State Waters(after Deaton et al. 2010)

VIABLE NC Commercial and Recreational Fish Species and Current (2014) Status (ASMFC 2015,

NCDMF 2014b, NOAA 2014, SEDAR)Atlantic Menhaden (coastwide) (ASMFC assessment)

Black Drum (coastwide) (2015 NCDMF)

Black Sea Bass (south of Hatteras) (NCDMF, SEDAR)

Bluefish (coastwide) (ASMFC)

Dolphinfish (coastwide) (NCDMF, SEDAR)

Scup (coastwide) (ASMFC, NCDMF)

Shrimp (Brown, Pink and White; statewide) (NCDMF)

Spanish Mackerel (coastwide) (ASMFC, NCDMF, SEDAR)

Spiny Dogfish (coastwide) (ASMFC, NCDMF)

Striped Bass (Atlantic Ocean migratory stock) (ASMFC)

Striped Mullet (statewide) (NCDMF)

Summer Flounder (coastwide) (ASMFC, NCDMF)

Swordfish (north Atlantic; not overfished) (NCDMF, NOAA)

Tunas (coastwide; albacore, bigeye, blackfin, bluefin, yellowfin) (NOAA)

DEPLETED/CONCERN NC Commercial and Recreational Fish Species and Current (2014) Status

(ASMFC, NCDMF 2014b; NOAA)

American Eel (coastwide): depleted (ASMFC, NCDMF)

American Shad (NC rivers; Albemarle Sound area stocks stable but well below historical levels; status of other NC rivers unknown): concern (NCDMF); depleted (ASMFC)

Atlantic Croaker (coastwide): concern (NCDMF); unknown (ASMFC)

Atlantic Sturgeon (coastwide and NC rivers): federally-listed threatened (Gulf of Maine); or endangered (all other Atlantic populations); assessment in progress

Bay Scallop (statewide): concern

Billfishes (status varies; e.g. blue marlin is overfished): concern (NOAA 2014)

Blue Crab (statewide): concern (NCDMF)

Eastern Oyster (statewide): concern (NCDMF)

Gag Grouper (coastwide): overfished, overfishing occurring (SEDAR)

King Mackerel (coastwide): concern (NCDMF, SEDAR)

River Herring (Alewife and Blueback, Albemarle Sound): depleted (ASMFC, NCDMF)

Sharks (status varies by species; overfished species include Blacknose, Dusky, Porbeagle and Sandbar Sharks): concern (ASMFC, NCDMF, NOAA)

Southern Flounder (NC): depleted (NCDMF)

Spot (coastwide): concern (NCDMF), unknown (ASMFC)

Spotted Seatrout (statewide): depleted (NCDMF)

Striped Bass (Albemarle-Roanoke): concern (ASMFC, NCDMF)

Striped Bass (Central/Southern estuarine): concern (NCDMF)

RECOVERING/UNKNOWN NC Commercial and Recreational Fish Species and Current (2014) Status

(ASMFC, NCDMF 2014b; NOAA)Black Sea Bass (north of Hatteras): recovering (NCDMF)

Snapper-Grouper Species Complex (coastwide, status varies): overfished species include Red Grouper, Red Porgy, Red Snapper, Snowy Grouper, Speckled Hind and Warsaw Grouper; other species are viable, i.e., Vermillion Snapper (SEDAR)

Hard Clam (statewide): unknown (NCDMF)

Hickory Shad (coastwide and NC): unknown (ASMFC, NCDMF)

Kingfishes (Gulf, Northern, Southern): unknown

Monkfish (coastwide): recovering (NCDMF)

Red Drum (coastwide): recovering (ASMFC, NCDMF)

River Herring (Alewife and Blueback, NC other areas): unknown (ASMFC, NCDMF)

Sheepshead (statewide): unknown (NCDMF)

Top Commercial Species Ranked by Ex-Vessel Value of 2013 Landings (NCDMF 2014)

Top five commercial species:

Blue Crab: $30,006,814

White Shrimp: $6,344,251

Brown Shrimp: $6,021,373

Southern Flounder: $5,672,904

Eastern Oyster: $3,363,095

Top five commercial non-finfish species:

Blue Crab: $30,006,814

White Shrimp: $6,344,251

Brown Shrimp: $6,021,373

Eastern Oyster: $3,363,095

Hard Clam: $2.295,096

Top five commercial finfish species:

Southern Flounder: $5,672,904

Tunas: $3,226,483

Swordfish: $2,936,940

Atlantic Croaker: $1,723,578

Striped Mullet: $1,402,914

Top Species Ranked by Directed Recreational Fishing Trips in 2013

(numbers of trips; NCDMF, 2014)

Inshore and Nearshore SpeciesFlounders: 927,524Bluefish: 756,161Red Drum: 726,572Spotted Seatrout: 666,891Kingfishes: 650,025

Offshore SpeciesSpanish Mackerel: 283,182Black Sea Bass: 275,467King Mackerel: 114,579Dolphinfish: 86,751Cobia: 79,968

Fishery Participants Based on Licenses(NCDMF, 2014)

Commercial licenses issued for fiscal year 2014: 21,405

Standard commercial fishing licenses issued for FY 2014: 5,494

Licenses issued with selling privileges in FY 2014: 8,212

Licenses with selling privileges used in FY 2014: 3,467

Participants using licenses with selling privileges in FY 2014: 3,071

Number of commercial fishing vessel registrations in FY 2014: 8,284

Number of ocean fishing pier licenses issued in FY 2014: 19

NC resident annual Coastal Recreational Fishing Licenses issued 2013: 133,120

Nonresident annual CRFL issued 2013: 19,423

Annual Inland Fishing/CRFL subsistence waiver: 36,679

Atlantic Coast Saltwater Fishing Trips by State for 2013, Ranked by Total Number (NCDMF 2014)

Florida: 8,980,811North Carolina: 4,967,753New Jersey: 4,276,738Massachusetts: 2,845,186Maryland: 2,732,008Virginia: 2,484,314South Carolina: 1,977,432Rhode Island: 1,218,202Connecticut: 1,199,383Delaware: 755,475Georgia: 690,362Maine: 592,571New Hampshire: 303,524

Commercial Landings and Economic Values(NCDMF, 2014)

Commercial finfish landings for 2013 (pounds): 22,003,433

Commercial finfish value for 2013 (dollars): $29,821,170

Commercial shellfish landings for 2013 (pounds): 28,194,177

Commercial shellfish value for 2013 (dollars): $49,283,326

Total fin- and shellfish landings for 2013 (pounds): 50,197,610

Total value for 2013 (dollars): $79,104,496

Economic Impact of Commercial and Recreational Fishing in North Carolina for 2013 (NCDMF 2014)

Commercial participants: 3,152

Pounds landed: 50,197,610

Ex-Vessel Value: $79,104,496

Jobs: 6,745

Income impacts: $127,709,000

Total economic impacts: $305,293,000

Recreational participants: 1,404,600

Estimated expenditures: $1,531,847,000

Jobs: 16,356

Income impacts: $600,664,000

Total economic impacts: $1,741,763,000

NCCOAST.ORG

3609 N.C. 24, Newport, NC

28570

252.393.8185