The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASFMC) American Eel Management Board recently approved North Carolina’s Aquaculture Plan for 2016, allowing up to 200 pounds of glass eels to be harvested for aquaculture purposes.
North Carolina’s plan is the first to be approved under the aquaculture plan provisions of Addendum IV to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for American Eel.
The Board reviewed comments provided by the Technical Committee, Advisory Panel, and Law Enforcement Committee on the various merits of the plan prior to its approval.
Board approval was contingent on two issues:
(1) export of glass eels will be prohibited
(2) the first year of the plan will be conducted as a pilot program.
For more information, visit www.asmfc.org
source: Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission