MOREHEAD CITY -- Beginning this September, commercial fishermen will be required to place escape panels in all flounder pound nets to reduce bycatch of undersized finfish.
The Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) has done extensive research in Pamlico and Core sounds, and the Mann’s Harbor area, that shows escape panels significantly reduce the number of undersized flounder while retaining legal-sized fish. Fishermen in Carteret County and areas of Albemarle and Pamlico sounds worked closely with the DMF to develop these bycatch devices. Escape panels have been required for several years in the central coastal waters of the state and have proven effective in reducing bycatch while decreasing the culling time at nets for fishermen.
DMF Director Pres Pate has issued a proclamation requiring the escape panels well in advance of the September 1 effective date, to give fishermen adequate time to install the panels while their nets are onshore and they are making annual repairs.
For more information about escape panel requirements, contact Rick Monaghan, DMF-Morehead City, at 1-800/682-2632 or 919/726-7021.
Return to Press Release Page.