This document summarizes information about estuarine dependent fish and fisheries in North Carolina. It outlines the state's biogeographical advantages for fish and fisheries, including its position between two marine ecosystems and proximity to the Gulf Stream. It also describes important inshore habitats for fish. The document then lists commercially and recreationally important fish species in the state, noting their current status. It provides data on landings, economic value, licenses, and trips for the state's commercial and recreational fishing. In conclusion, it estimates the significant economic impact of both commercial and recreational fishing in North Carolina.

1. N.C. Estuarine Dependent Fish
and Fisheries

2. About the N.C. Coastal Federation
• Founded
1982
• 16,000
Supporters
• 30 staff
members
• 30 board
members
• 20 county
coverage

3. Biogeographical Advantages
for NC Fish/Fisheries
 Geographically positioned at
the boundary of two large marine
ecosystems; both northern and
southern species present
 Gulf Stream relatively close
offshore
 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

4. 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

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

6. 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)

7. 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)

8. 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)

9. 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

10. Top Species Ranked by Directed Recreational
Fishing Trips in 2013
(numbers of trips; NCDMF, 2014)
Inshore and Nearshore Species
Flounders: 927,524
Bluefish: 756,161
Red Drum: 726,572
Spotted Seatrout: 666,891
Kingfishes: 650,025
Offshore Species
Spanish Mackerel: 283,182
Black Sea Bass: 275,467
King Mackerel: 114,579
Dolphinfish: 86,751
Cobia: 79,968

11. 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

12. Atlantic Coast Saltwater Fishing Trips by State for
2013, Ranked by Total Number (NCDMF 2014)
Florida: 8,980,811
North Carolina: 4,967,753
New Jersey: 4,276,738
Massachusetts: 2,845,186
Maryland: 2,732,008
Virginia: 2,484,314
South Carolina: 1,977,432
Rhode Island: 1,218,202
Connecticut: 1,199,383
Delaware: 755,475
Georgia: 690,362
Maine: 592,571
New Hampshire: 303,524

14. 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

15. 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

17. NCCOAST.ORG
3609 N.C. 24, Newport, NC 28570
252.393.8185