MOREHEAD CITY - The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission has made changes to this week's meeting plans in order to keep travel and other costs to a minimum.

The commission, initially scheduled to meet May 27-29 in Kitty Hawk, has shortened its agenda to one day and will instead be meeting Thursday at the N.C. Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores. The meeting is from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

For much of the Division of Marine Fisheries staff planning to attend the meeting, the change in location will now mean only a short drive down the road.

"Most of the staff members who go to these meetings are out of Morehead City. To go to another location would mean more travel, more gas and those types of expenses," said Division of Marine Fisheries spokeswoman Patricia Smith.

Staff members who do attend will be carpooling and the facility being used for the meeting is being provided free of charge by the aquarium, which is part of a sister division within the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

The meeting times and location were changed to lower costs under current state budget guidelines.

"We got permission to hold the meeting based on the fact that it will cost very little," Smith said,

All members of the commission have agreed to forego their $100 per diem for meetings as well as travel reimbursement.

The shortened meeting will mean an agenda that covers a short list of priority items.

The commission will consider approval to release applications for the 2009-10 cycle of the Coastal Recreational Fishing License grant program. Also being considered is approval of fisheries management plan guidelines to include a standard for at least 50-percent probability of success.

There will be discussion of whether to consider interim rules for spotted sea trout while the fishery management plan is being developed. The commission will also discuss the possibility of interim rules for Southern flounder while its fishery management plan is under review.

The public is welcome to attend the meeting. No public comment period is scheduled due to time constraints. The commission will accept written comments.

If the commission chooses to go forward with interim management measures for spotted sea trout or Southern flounder, the public will have an opportunity to speak on the proposals at future meetings.

The Marine Fisheries Commission and its advisory committees will also discuss ongoing budget constraints during Thursday's meeting.

Commission meetings for September and December will be in Pine Knoll Shores.

By state law, the Marine Fisheries Commission is required to meet once each quarter. Of the four meetings, three must be held within one of the state's coastal regions.

The commission has traditionally held a meeting in each of the three coastal regions, with the fourth being held at an inland location.

Staff writer Jannette Pippin can be reached at jpippin@freedomenc.com or 910-382-2557.