North Carolina Marine Fisheries Proclamation FF-8-2018 increases the daily harvest limit for striped bass from commercial fishing operations in the Albemarle Sound Management Area from 10 to 20 fish per day, per Standard Commercial Fishing License (SCFL) holder.

This action is being taken in conjunction with the opening of the harvest season for American shad in the Albemarle Sound Management Area.

One fishing operation with multiple standard licensees can only possess two daily harvest limits.

The proclamation was effective Saturday, March 3, 2018, at 12:01 a.m.

The harvest season will close by proclamation when the harvest allocation is reached or at 8 p.m., April 30, 2018.

“The intent of this proclamation is to manage the commercial harvest of striped bass in the Albemarle Sound Management Area within the 137,500 pound annual harvest quota established by the November 2014 Revision to Amendment 1 of the North Carolina Estuarine Striped Bass Fishery Management Plan,” states Proclamation FF-8-2018.