WEEKLY UPDATE: 03/20/008
NORTH CAROLINA FISHERIES ASSOCIATION
“Serving Commercial Fishing Families of North Carolina”
He is Risen…have a blessed Easter from all of us at NCFA
Despite the fact that the NC Marine Fisheries Commission voted unanimously to put Jule Wheatly’s name forward as the preferred candidate for the upcoming appointment to the Mid Atlantic Council Governor Easley (true to form) ignored his own advisors and did not mention the preference of the Commission in his letter to James Balsiger, the new Administrator for Fisheries at NMFS, who is charged with making that appointment. In a rather convoluted process the MFC’s letter recommending Jule did not go to the Governor (as is normal) but went instead to Secretary Ross at DENR, who with the advice of DMF staff chose not to recommend Jule to the Governor. The Governor took it one step further and completed ignored the Commission’s recommendation while claiming to do so. Governor Easley wrote to Dr. Balsiger, “I concur with their [the NCMFC’s] recommendations and am forwarding these names to you as North Carolina’s nominees.” Excuse me Governor Easley, the Commission voted Jule out preferred, you did not concur, you undermined the Commission and sent NMFS a slate of candidates with none being preferred, and while that may be your right (not to agree with the Commission) let’s be clear, you did not concur with them.
Weakfish NOAA Fisheries has completed a final rule to decrease the incidental catch allowance for weakfish caught in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) from 300 lb (135 kg) to no more than 150 lb (67 kg) per day or trip, whichever is longer in duration. This measure was developed to respond to recent stock assessment data that suggested low weakfish biomass. While the reduced bycatch provision would not itself resolve the biomass issue, its impact will potentially slow the decline and have positive effects on the stock health. The new rule modifies regulations for the Atlantic coast stock of weakfish so that they are consistent with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's plan for weakfish. The rule becomes effective April 3, 2008. For additional information, please contact Brian H., telephone 301-713-2334.
Summer Flounder:
2008 NC Atlantic Ocean Summer Flounder Quota: 2,558,524 pounds
Cumulative Harvest for 2008 winter fishery: - 1,897,483 pounds
2008 winter fishery summer flounder quota remaining: 149,336 pounds
PROCLAMATION
RE: SCUP
Effective at 12:01 A.M., Thursday, March 20, 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 No person may take, possess, buy, sell or offer for sale scup less than 9 inches in length. No commercial fishing operation, regardless of the number of people involved, may possess, sell or offer for sale more than 1,000 pounds of scup per trip during the period ending at 6:00 P.M. Monday, March 31, 2008. 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-35-2008.html
RE: GILL NETS – MONKFISH IN ATLANTIC OCEAN
Effective at 12:01 A.M., Sunday, March 16, 2008 the following provisions shall apply to the use of commercial large mesh gill nets in the Atlantic Ocean monkfish fishery:
AREA DESCRIPTION: The Atlantic Ocean 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). In the area of Oregon Inlet, the COLREGS line shall be considered the coastline. COMMERCIAL NET AND SEASON CLOSURE RESTRICTIONS: A. The Atlantic Ocean is closed to the use of gill nets greater than seven (7) inches stretched mesh by Proclamation M-1-2008, dated January 10, 2008 from January 14, 2008 through April 14, 2008 with the exception of the monkfish and striped bass fisheries. B. Only individuals that possess a 2008 Monkfish Large Mesh Gill Net Permit required by Proclamation FF-31-2008, dated March 11, 2008 are authorized to fish gill nets with a stretched mesh size greater than seven (7) inches in the area described above. C. Large mesh gill nets set shall be fished at least once every 48 hours, weather permitting. http://www.ncfisheries.net/procs/procs2k8/M-7-2008.html
RE: BLACK SEA BASS – COMMERCIAL FISHING OPERATIONS – ATLANTIC OCEAN
Dr. Louis B. Daniel III, Director, Division of Marine Fisheries, hereby announces that effective at 12:01 A.M., Sunday, March 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., Sunday, March 16, 2008 and ending at 6:00 P.M., Monday, March 31, 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., March 31, 2008, whichever occurs first. http://www.ncfisheries.net/procs/procs2k8/FF-33-2008.html
MEETINGS:
March 31, 2008 1 p.m.
NCMFC Habitat and Water Quality Advisory Committee
NCDENR Regional Office - 943 Washington Square Mall - Washington, NC
Contact Jeanne Hardy 800-682-2632 or 252-726-7021 or MFC Office 252-808-8022
March 31, 2008 10 a.m.
NCMFC Civil Remissions/Law Enforcement Committee
NCDENR Regional Office - 943 Washington Square Mall - Washington, NC
Contact Jim Kelly 910-796-7215 MFC Office 252-808-8022
April 2, 2008 12 p.m.
NCMFC Finfish Advisory Committee
NCDENR Regional Office - 943 Washington Square Mall - Washington, NC
Contact Lee Paramore 252-473-5734 or MFC Office 252-808-8022
