WEEKLY UPDATE: 01/18/2008
NORTH CAROLINA FISHERIES ASSOCIATION
“Serving Commercial Fishing Families of North Carolina”
Jones Bill: HR 4087 Last week we reported that President Pro Tem Senator Mark Basnight signed a letter to the NC Congressional delegation supporting this initiative. Another important endorsement comes this week from Virginia, Virginia's eastern shore and part of the lower Chesapeake Bay representative to Congress, Thelma Drake, has signed on as a cosponsor of HR1408. That’s great news. In addition, all eight (8) federal fisheries management councils have signed a letter asking for hearings on the Jones bill. That is a crucial development as the councils have been calling for flexibility for years and if hearings are held Congress will hear the reasons why it is so needed. The letter was sent to: Honorable Madeleine Z. Bordallo US House of Representatives Chairwoman, Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, and Oceans. Please contact Congresswoman Bordallo and ask her to support hearings on HR 4087. Still waiting for the Division and the Commission to support the bill and NC fishermen and their families.
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
(Cumulative Harvest for 2008 winter fishery: - 561,732 pounds
2008 winter fishery summer flounder quota remaining: 1,485,087 pounds
PROCLAMATION
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: BLACK SEA BASS – COMMERCIAL FISHING OPERATIONS – ATLANTIC OCEAN
Effective at 12:01 A.M., Wednesday, January 16, 2008, the following restrictions shall apply to the commercial black sea bass fishery north of Cape Hatteras (35° 15.3’N. Latitude): SIZE LIMIT It is unlawful to possess black sea bass less than 11 inches total length north of Cape Hatteras. Total length shall be measured along the lateral midline from the tip of the nose to the tip tail, excluding the caudal fin filament. HARVEST LIMITS During the period beginning at 12:01 A.M., Wednesday, January 16, 2008 and ending at 6:00 P.M., Wednesday, January 30, 2008, no commercial trawl, fish pot or hook and line fishing operation, regardless of the number of people involved, may have total landings of more than 5,000 pounds of black sea bass taken from the Atlantic Ocean north of Cape Hatteras. The Atlantic Ocean black sea bass fishery will close immediately after the Director issues a public notice that the quota of black sea bass has been landed from the Atlantic Ocean north of Cape Hatteras, or at 6:00 P.M., January 30, 2008, whichever occurs first. B. during any closed season, vessels may land up to 100 pounds of black sea bass per trip taken from the Atlantic Ocean. http://www.ncfisheries.net/procs/procs2k8/FF-6-2008.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:
Jan. 24-25
NCMFC Business Meetings for 2008:
Marriott, Carolina Beach Call Division for details 252-726-7021
**Dr. Leutze has resigned from the Commission owing to time constraints and NCFA looks forward to seeing that seat filled with a qualified candidate, not a wholly political appointment.
SAFMC Public Scoping Meeting
New Bern, NC
Contact MFC Office 252-808-8022
Council to Hold Series of Public Scoping Meetings in February
Topics include allocations, Annual Catch Limits, Limited Access Privilege Programs, and mackerel quotas
From Marathon to Manteo, fishermen who fish in federal waters along the South Atlantic coast should plan to attend one of a series of public scoping meetings/workshops being held by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council in February. These informal scoping meetings/workshops provide the public an opportunity to weigh in on several fisheries issues before the Council determines if management actions are warranted.
These issues include options for determining allocations of fisheries between recreational and commercial sectors, as well as allocations within these sectors. For example, recreational allocations may be considered between for-hire (charter and headboats) and private recreational fishermen. For the commercial sector, allocations may be considered based on gear types. Other issues open for scoping include possible amendments to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan that will establish Annual Catch Limits for species undergoing overfishing as outlined in the reauthorized Magnuson Stevens Act. These ACLs may lead to further restrictions on certain fisheries. Additionally, the Council is soliciting public comment on the establishment of a Limited Access Privilege Program for the commercial snapper grouper fishery as well as input on the allocation of the commercial Atlantic king mackerel quota.
