Photo courtesy of Capt. John "QB" Quattlebaum The winter fishery for bluefin tuna is a vital part of the coastal economy of North Carolina.

Commercial and recreational anglers are invited to attend a public meeting in Morehead City to discuss the upcoming Atlantic Bluefin tuna fishery.

The meeting will take place at the Crystal Coast Civic Center, located at 3505 Arendell Street. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.  North Carolina Sea Grant, North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries, the U.S. Coast Guard and National Marine Fisheries Service are jointly sponsoring the event.

The meeting is intended to educate the public and answer questions regarding federal and state enforcement efforts, equipment and safety requirements. Representatives from each agency will be on hand to answer questions regarding fishery rules and regulations, permits, required gear and the proper handling techniques for Atlantic Bluefin tuna.

The winter bluefin tuna fishery is vital to North Carolina’s coastal economy.  In the 2005-2006 commercial season, more than 190,000 pounds of Atlantic Bluefin were sold in the state with an ex-vessel value of more than one million dollars.

For questions about the meeting, contact: Brian Efland of North Carolina Sea Grant, 252/222-6314, brian_efland@ncsu.edu; or Barry Everhart of the U.S. Coast Guard, 252/247-4526.

For more information about North Carolina Sea Grant and upcoming events, visit: www.ncseagrant.org. To learn more about proper handling techniques for tuna, visit: www.ncseagrant.org/tuna.