House committee substitute to the 2nd edition makes the following changes.
Now requires the Fisheries Director, the Marine Fisheries Commission (Commission), and the Division of Marine Fisheries of the Department of Environmental Quality (Division) to:
- Also increase commercial access to the southern flounder resources by allowing a recreational harvest. Specifies that the proclamation and supplement for the above are for the Southern Flounder Fishery Management Plan (was, fishery management plan for flounder and red snapper). Specifies that the harvest should last not less than six weeks. Sets a commercial quota with a total allowed catch of 750,000 pounds with quota overages in one year deducted from the following year's quota and any unused quota in one year added to the following year's quota. Broadens the provisions implemented through the Plan that continue to apply to include season opening dates, area designations, and the described gear sub-allocations.
- Allow a year round snapper season with a limit of two fish per person and a 20-inch minimum size limit in State waters.
- Complete a southern flounder stock assessment based on the most recent years of available data by July 1, 2026.
Removes provisions requiring the above agencies to revise any regulations, guidelines, or policies regarding the catch and release fishery so that flounder and red snapper caught and released by recreational fishermen will not be counted towards catch limits or quotas set by the Division or the Commission.
Sets a due date of August 1, 2026, for the Division’s first report to the specified NCGA Committees. Changes the scope of the assessment included in the report so that it addresses progress in rebuilding the southern flounder stock and an estimated timeline of further increasing recreational and commercial access to the southern flounder resource (was, assessment of progress in conserving flounder and red snapper populations and an estimate of the time line for the Division to be able to increase the daily creel limit above one fish per day for the red snapper and flounder fisheries.)
Bill Summaries: H442 (2025-2026 Session)
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Bill H 442 (2025-2026)Summary date: May 6 2025 - View summary
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Bill H 442 (2025-2026)Summary date: Apr 29 2025 - View summary
House committee substitute to the 1st edition makes the following changes.
Changes references from “summer flounder” to “flounder” throughout. Changes the end date of the recreational season for flounder and red snapper from July 31st to November 15th. Amends the act’s long title.
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Bill H 442 (2025-2026)Summary date: Mar 18 2025 - View summary
Includes whereas clauses. Requires the the Fisheries Director, the Marine Fisheries Commission (Commission), and the Division of Marine Fisheries of the Department of Environmental Quality (Division) to: (1) issue proclamations and undertake amendments to the fishery management plan for summer flounder and red snapper to allow an annual recreational season between May 15 and July 31, with a limit of one fish or more per person per day, and no seasonal limit (specifies that all other size and manner of take limits continue to apply to the summer flounder and red snapper fisheries); and (2) revise any regulations, guidelines, or policies regarding the catch and release fishery so that flounder and red snapper caught and released by recreational fishermen will not be counted towards catch limits or quotas set by the Division or the Commission. Requires the Division to report annual to the specified NCGA committees, including an assessment of progress in conserving summer flounder and red snapper populations and an estimate of the time line for the Division to be able to increase the daily creel limit above one fish per day for the red snapper and summer flounder fisheries. Expires August 1, 2029.