WEEKLY UPDATE: 09/21/2007) - WEEKLY UPDATE: 09/21/2007)

WEEKLY UPDATE: 09/21/2007)
NORTH CAROLINA FISHERIES ASSOCIATION
“Serving Commercial Fishing Families of North Carolina�

Snapper/Grouper 13C lawsuit update: Both sides have submitted their final briefs and the judge will decide the issues at hand. NMFS maintains its position that they are obligated to simply put a rebuilding plan in place, while we believe the law is clear in that a rebuilding plan requires measures NMFS refuses to address. We’ll see what the judge thinks.

South Atlantic Fisheries Management Council met in N. Myrtle Beach this week with many various proposals/discussions. High on the list were LAPP (Limited Access Privilege Programs) and the proposed reductions in the vermillion snapper fishery.

The Council’s snapper/grouper AP met and voted for no action on vermillion until the aged-based assessment is complete; unfortunately, NMFS pressed the Council to approve the proposed cuts in vermillion citing the requirements of the MSA to move forward to end over fishing. Many wonder why there is an AP to begin with.

The bottom line is NMFS agrees the new assessment needs to be done but maintained at the SAFMC meetings it must stick to a rigorous schedule as if the new assessment will not change anything.  Dr. Hogarth is in agreement that it should be done and stated in a letter to the NCMFC “Our goal is to process the otolith data and complete the aged-based assessment in late 2008. This schedule should provide NMFS the opportunity to review the assessment results prior to implementing any vermillion snapper regulations proposed by the Council in June 2008.â€ÂÂ� (Emphasis added) Dr. Hogarth’s statements seem to leave the door open to having a different outcome once the new assessment is done, Dr. Roy Crabtree SE Regional Administrator is not as confident and has doubts the new assessment will show a healthier vermillion stock. Of course, fishermen up and down the coast are seeing more vermillion than they have in a very long time.

PROCLAMATION

RE: STRIPED BASS SEASON – COMMERCIAL FISHING OPERATIONS –
ALBEMARLE SOUND MANAGEMENT AREA Effective at 12:01 A.M., Monday, October 1, 2007, the harvest of striped bass with COMMERCIAL FISHING OPERATIONS IN THE ALBEMARLE SOUND MANAGEMENT AREA WILL OPEN and the following provisions shall apply: I. AREA DESCRIPTION Albemarle Sound Management Area as described in Marine Fisheries Rule 15A NCAC 3R .0201 (a).
II. SIZE AND HARVEST RESTRICTIONS: A. It is unlawful to take, possess, transport, buy, sell, or offer for sale striped bass less than 18 inches total length taken by commercial fishing operations from the Albemarle Sound Management Area. B. It is unlawful for an individual or commercial fishing operation regardless of the number of persons or vessels involved, to possess, land, sell or offer for sale more than ten (10) striped bass, unless taken in conjunction with other commercially important finfish. Striped bass will be limited to 50% by weight, of the combined daily harvest, not to exceed 10 fish per day, per Standard Commercial Fishing License (SCFL) holder. The daily harvest limit of 10 striped bass shall not be exceeded, regardless of where taken from internal waters, unless the fish are taken in accordance with II. C. below. C. It is unlawful for any operation consisting of more than one SCFL holder to be in possession of more than two daily harvest limits. A SCFL holder must accompany each single harvest limit until the time of sale to a dealer possessing a valid 2007/2008 STRIPED BASS DEALER PERMIT validated for the Albemarle Sound Management Area. http://www.ncfisheries.net/procs/procs2k7/FF-57-2007.html

MEETINGS:

September 25, 2007 6 p.m.

NCMFC Crustacean Advisory Committee
NCDENR Regional Office - 943 Washington Square Mall - Washington, NC
Contact Sean McKenna 800-338-7804 or 353-946-6481 or MFC Office 252-808-8020

October 2, 2007 6 p.m.

NCMFC Southeast Regional Advisory Committee
NCDENR Regional Office - 127 Cardinal Drive - Wilmington, NC
Contact Rich Carpenter 800-248-4536 or 910-796-7215 or MFC Office 252-808-8077

October 2, 2007 5:30 p.m.

NCMFC Red Drum Advisory Committee
NCDENR Regional Office - 943 Washington Square Mall - Washington, NC
Contact Lee Paramore 252-473-5734 or MFC Office 252-808-8020

October 16 - 18:
Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, New Bern Convention Center, 203 S. Front Street, New Bern, North Carolina