WEEKLY UPDATE: 01/11/2008
NORTH CAROLINA FISHERIES ASSOCIATION
“Serving Commercial Fishing Families of North Carolina”
Jones Bill: Congressman Jones’ important flexibility bill HR 4087 is moving along with an important NC state endorsement. President Pro Tem Senator Mark Basnight signed a letter to the NC Congressional delegation supporting this initiative. Senator Basnight stated, in part, “The Magnuson-Stevens Conservation and Management Reauthorization Act sets a deadline of 10 years to rebuild our nation’s overfished or depleted fish stocks to healthy, sustainable levels. This schedule is not based on scientific data – in fact, some fish stocks could not rebuild in that time frame, even if moratoriums were implemented. The unintended consequence of this management strategy is severe social and economic impacts to our already struggling fishing communities. Fishery managers need the option of extending the rebuilding deadline for some species as long as those stocks are rebuilding and moving toward biological targets identified in management plans. H.R. 4087 would allow fisheries managers to extend the 10-year rebuilding deadline in some situations in order to minimize social and economic disruptions to commercial and recreational fishing communities. Please consider supporting this important bill. Its passage is vital to the future of our fishery and our economy.” NC Coastal Congressmen are co-sponsors, Mike McIntyre and Walter Jones; we are hoping the NC Marine Fisheries Commission and the NC Division of Marine Fisheries will join the rest of the state and support this crucial piece of legislation.
Monday, December 31, 2007 was Bill Hogarth’s last day as Assistant Administrator for Fisheries after 7 years as leader of NOAA Fisheries. He will continue to serve as the U.S. Commissioner and Chair of the International Whaling Commission through the end of the next annual meeting in June 2008. On January 15, 2008, he will begin his new job as the Interim Dean at the College of Marine Science, University of South Florida, in St. Pete FL.
MARINE FISHERIES COMMISSION SEEKS SPOTTED SEATROUT ADVISORS
The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission is looking for individuals to serve as advisors in developing the Spotted Seatrout Fishery Management Plan (FMP). Advisor applications are available online at http://www.ncdmf.net/download/ADVISOR_AP.pdf , at Division of Marine Fisheries’ offices or by calling (252) 808-8022 or (800) 682-2632. Applications should be returned by Feb. 1, 2008, to the Division of Marine Fisheries, P.O. Box 769, Morehead City, NC 28557 Attention: Kelly Mullen.
Summer Flounder:
2008 NC Atlantic Ocean Summer Flounder Quota: 2,558,524 pounds
(Adjusted quota less research set-aside)
Quota for 2008 winter fishery: 2,046,819 pounds
(80% of total NC quota)
Cumulative Harvest for 2008 winter fishery: - 273,430 pounds
2008 winter fishery summer flounder quota remaining: 1,773,389 pounds
PROCLAMATION
RE: SCUP Effective at 1:00 P.M., Thursday, January 10, 2008, the following restrictions will apply to the commercial scup fishery in the Atlantic Ocean north of Cape Hatteras (35° 15' N. Latitude):
I. SIZE AND HARVEST LIMITS A. No person may take, possess, buy, sell or offer for sale scup less than 9 inches in length. B. No person may possess, sell or offer for sale more than 30,000 pounds of scup during the period ending at 6:00 P.M. Tuesday, January 15, 2008 when taken with commercial fishing equipment or for commercial purposes during the Winter I Harvest Period. II. TRAWL MESH REQUIREMENTS The minimum mesh size for the commercial scup fishery will be 5 inches stretched mesh with a minimum length of 75 meshes from the terminus of the net. For small nets with less than 75 mesh codends, the entire net will consist of 5 inch mesh. http://www.ncfisheries.net/procs/procs2k8/FF-3-2008R.html
RE: STRIPED BASS SEASON –GILL NETS: ATLANTIC OCEAN
Effective at 7:00 A.M., Tuesday, January 15, 2008 the season for the harvest of striped bass with gill nets in the Atlantic Ocean waters of North Carolina WILL OPEN. The following restrictions shall apply: I. SIZE LIMIT No person may possess, transport, buy, sell or offer for sale striped bass less than 28 inches total length taken with gill nets from the Atlantic Ocean. II. HARVEST RESTRICTIONS No individual may land or sell more than 10 striped bass per person per day except that an ocean gill net operation consisting of more than one Standard Commercial Fishing License (SCFL) holder may land or sell no more than two daily harvest limits (20 fish). A SCFL holder must accompany each single harvest limit (10 fish) until the time of sale to a dealer who possesses a valid 2007/2008 Striped Bass Dealer Permit validated for the Atlantic Ocean. Harvest will be allowed on Tuesday, January 15, 2008, Wednesday, January 16, 2008 and Thursday, January 17, 2008. http://www.ncfisheries.net/procs/procs2k8/FF-4-2008.html
RE: GILL NETS – ATLANTIC OCEAN
Effective at 12:01 A.M., Monday, January 14, 2008 the following provisions shall apply to the use of commercial large mesh gill nets in the Atlantic Ocean: AREA DESCRIPTION: The Atlantic Ocean
COMMERCIAL NET AND SEASON CLOSURE RESTRICTIONS: It is unlawful to use gill nets greater than seven (7) inches stretched mesh in the Atlantic Ocean from January 14 through April 14 of each year with the following exceptions: During seasons established by proclamation for the harvest of striped bass from the Atlantic Ocean with gill nets. B. During seasons established by proclamation for the harvest of monkfish from the Atlantic Ocean with gill nets in a one mile wide area extending from two miles seaward of the coastline to three miles seaward of the coastline from the North Carolina/Virginia state line southward to Wimble Shoal (Latitude 35° 30’N). C. Large mesh gill nets set under the exceptions listed above shall be fished at least once every 48 hours, weather permitting.
MEETINGS:
January 14, 2008 7P.M.
Army Corps of Engineers Meeting on Oregon Inlet
Colonel Pulliam will be there to discuss problems with the Inlet
Contact Bob Peele for information 252-475-1414
January 14, 2008 9:30 a.m.
CHPP Steering Committee
Craven Ag. Building - 300 Industrial Drive - New Bern, NC
Contact Jimmy Johnson 252-948-3952
January 14, 2008 1 p.m.
NCMFC Habitat and Water Quality Advisory Committee
Craven Ag. Building - 300 Industrial Drive - New Bern, NC
Contact Jeanne Hardy 800-682-2632 or 252-726-7021 or MFC Office 252-808-8022
January 14, 2008 2:30 p.m.
NCMFC Crustacean Advisory Committee
Craven Ag. Building - 300 Industrial Drive - New Bern, NC
Contact Sean McKenna 800-338-7804 or 353-946-6481 or MFC Office 252-808-8022
Jan. 24-25
NCMFC Business Meetings for 2008:
Marriott, Carolina Beach Call Division for details 252-726-7021
