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Weekly Updates |
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WEEKLY UPDATE: 03/27/09
NORTH CAROLINA FISHERIES ASSOCIATION
“Serving the Commercial Fishing Families of North Carolina since 1952”
Phone: (252) 633-2288
Southeast Regional Director Roy Crabtree sends letter to SAFMC informing it that the interim rule shutting down the snapper grouper fishery is one step closer to completion. “This letter advises you that NOAA Fisheries Service (NMFS) has partially approved Amendment 16 to the Fishery Management Plan for Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region (Amendment 16) on March 24, 2009. Approved actions in Amendment 16 include: Measures to end overfishing of gag and vermilion snapper and protect hallow water grouper species during their January-April spawning season; a provision to allow the Regional Administrator to adjust management measures for vermilion snapper based on the recently completed Southeast Data Assessment and Review stock assessment; specification of the total allowable catch and interim allocations for gag and vermilion snapper; updated management reference points for gag and vermilion snapper; and a requirement that dehooking tools be used, as needed, to reduce bycatch mortality of snapper-grouper species.” Thanks SAFMC; thanks Mac Currin.
NOAA Chief Jane Lubchenco said this week a major item on the NOAA agenda is the dismal state of many of the nation’s fisheries. “Congress has mandated that overfishing be ended in 2011, 2012 — there are different dates for different fisheries,” Dr. Lubchenco said. “We are not on track to doing that now.” She said there are a range of regulatory tools to apply to the problem, particularly catch shares, a term applied to various efforts to allocate percentages of a particular fish catch in a particular area to particular individuals, companies or communities. The idea has been used successfully on parts of the west coast, but it has yet to catch on widely in the east. Dr. Lubchenco said it had “tremendous merit” as a tool for restoring the sustainability of the ocean ecosystem. Here come ITQ’s LAPP’s for everything folks…
But first, she said, fishing communities, scientists, regulators and other stakeholders in the debate need to overcome a legacy of bitterness and distrust. “It really is pretty dysfunctional,” Dr. Lubchenco said. But, she added, “in the end fishing jobs depend on fish, and fish depend on healthy oceans.” She’s right about one thing; this whole system is “dysfunctional.”
**Note: The agency's fiscal 2009 budget stands at nearly $4.4 billion, but under this month's stimulus allocation, NOAA will receive a nearly 20 percent boost -- an additional $830 million. The legislation includes $170 million for climate change research as well as $230 million for habitat restoration, navigation projects and vessel maintenance, along with another $430 million for the construction and repair of NOAA facilities, ships and equipment, improvements in weather forecasting and satellite development. Talk about AIG!
Proclamations
RE: BLACK SEA BASS-COMMERCIAL FISHING OPERATIONS-ATLANTIC OCEAN Dr. Effective 12:01 A.M., Wednesday, April 1, 2009, the following will apply to the requirement for dealer permits for Black Sea Bass North of Cape Hatteras: BLACK SEA BASS NORTH OF CAPE HATTERAS DEALER PERMIT Proclamation FF-70-2008, dated October 31, 2008 IS RESCINDED. http://www.ncfisheries.net/procs/procs2k9/FF-39-2009.html
RE: SMALL MESH GILL NET ATTENDANCE
Effective 12:01 A.M., Wednesday, April 1, 2009, the following will apply to the attendance requirements for small mesh gill nets: I. SMALL MESH GILL NET ATTENDANCE Proclamation M-19-2008, dated November 10, 2008 IS RESCINDED.
http://www.ncfisheries.net/procs/procs2k9/M-8-2009.html
RE: STRIPED BASS SEASON – COMMERCIAL FISHING OPERATIONS –
ALBEMARLE SOUND MANAGEMENT AREA
Effective at 9:00 A.M., Thursday, March 26, 2009, the following changes will apply to the harvest of striped bass with COMMERCIAL FISHING OPERATIONS IN THE ALBEMARLE SOUND MANAGEMENT AREA: 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 fifteen (15) 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 15 fish per day, per Standard Commercial Fishing License (SCFL) holder. The daily harvest limit of 15 striped bass shall not be exceeded, regardless of where taken from internal waters, unless the fish are taken in accordance with II. C. below. This harvest limit of 15 fish expires at 8:00 P.M. on Tuesday, April 14, 2009. 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 2008/2009 STRIPED BASS DEALER PERMIT validated for the Albemarle Sound Management Area. http://www.ncfisheries.net/procs/procs2k9/FF-38-2009.html
MEETINGS:
March 30, 2009 at 1:00 p.m. CANCELLED
MFC Habitat and Water Quality Advisory Committee
NCDENR Regional Field Office - 943 Washington Square Mall - Washington, NC
Contact Anne Deaton at 910-796-7315 or the MFC Office at 800-682-2632 or 252-808-8022
April 4/14 - 4/16 Mid Atlantic Fisheries Management Council
The Sanderling 1461 Duck Rd. Duck, NC 27949
Information: Tel: 1-252-261-4111
April 22, 2009 at 4:00 p.m.
MFC Spotted Seatrout Fishery Management Plan Advisory Committee Meeting
Craven County Agricultural Extension Building - 300 Industrial Drive - New Bern, NC
Contact Beth Burns at 252-473-5734 ext. 221 or MFC Office at 800-682-2632 or 252-808-8022
April 29, 2009 at 6:00 p.m.
MFC Central Regional Advisory Committee Meeting
Craven County Agricultural Extension Building - 300 Industrial Drive - New Bern, NC
Contact Mike Marshall at 800-682-2632 or 252-808-8077 or the MFC Office at 252-808-8022
For more information on any item in this update, contact the NCFA office (252) 633-2288.
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WEEKLY UPDATE: 04/09/09
NORTH CAROLINA FISHERIES ASSOCIATION
“Serving the Commercial Fishing Families of North Carolina since 1952”
Phone: (252) 633-2288
Office Closed tomorrow for Good Friday
Raleigh: House Bill 918 gamefish for red drum and spotted seatrout…having failed thus far in the senate the anti-commercial groups CCA and the new Coastal Fisheries Reform Group have used Representative Carolyn Justice to push their agenda. Not only does the effort destroy any pretense that these recreational groups are reasonable, but it flies in the face of the Fisheries Reform Act, the law establishing the process by which we manage fisheries in NC. The consumer will be the ultimate loser when these fish are never again available to them in markets or restaurants; this so an elite group of affluent sports fishermen can have the fish just for themselves. Please call your reps and say NO to House Bill 918; Pender/New Hanover counties Carolyn Justice 919-270-4604; Chowan, Dare, Hyde, Washington counties Time Spear 919-715-3029; Carteret/Jones Counties Pat McElraft 919-733-6275; Onslow; George G. Cleveland, 919-715-6707; Craven County William Wainwright 919-733-5995. Speaker of the House Joe Hackney 919-733-3451.
Representative Carolyn Justice, from Hampstead, really needs to pull her bill (H 918). She’s a coastal rep acting to destroy many of her own constituents’ livelihoods and keep her own people from having access to these fish at the local markets. Folks in New Hanover and Pender ought to call her and tell her to pull this bill. Her numbers: Office: 919-715-9664 Home: 910-270-4604 (Home number listed as a contact number on her official state page)
Representative Darren G. Jackson (Dem), Wake County attorney, and Representative Ty Harrell (Dem) also of Wake County seem to be the new CCA water carriers having introduced several bills late yesterday just before the filing deadline. (CCA was in Raleigh yesterday for their legislative lobbying day and seemed to have succeeded with these two). Here’s the four bills Jackson/Harrell has introduced to regulate further the commercial industry. Call your reps and say no to these bills: No is, sometimes, a good word…
H1344 Prohibit Taking of Menhaden for Reduction. A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO PROHIBIT THE TAKING OF MENHADEN IN STATE COASTAL FISHING WATERS FOR THE PURPOSE OF REDUCTION. The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: SECTION 1. Article 14A of Chapter 113 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read: 7 "§ 113-169.6. Unlawful to take menhaden in State waters.
H1345 Protect Oyster Sanctuaries. A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO PROHIBIT COMMERCIAL FISHING WITHIN FIVE HUNDRED YARDS OF AN OYSTER SANCTUARY.
H1346 Improve Success of FMPs. A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO PROVIDE THAT FISHERY MANAGEMENT PLANS MUST MEET A STANDARD OF AT LEAST FIFTY PERCENT PROBABILITY OF ACHIEVING THE TARGET MORTALITY RATE FOR THE FISHERY OR FISHERIES.
H1343 Federal Enforcement by Marine Inspectors. A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO ALLOW MARINE FISHERIES INSPECTORS TO ACCEPT DELEGATION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT POWERS FROM THE NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE.
**What is happening here with all of these bills is the anti-commercial crowd has decided to ignore the Fisheries Reform Act and go around the process and have the legislature take over fisheries management. No process, no public input, no accountability.**
Proclamations
RE: CRAB POT ESCAPE RINGS Effective at 12:00 Noon, Saturday, April 11, 2009, the following area will be exempt from the escape ring requirement in crab pots until 12:01 A.M., June 15, 2009. AREA DESCRIPTION: Newport River bounded by the Highway 70 Bridge in the south and the Highway 101 Bridge at Core Creek in the north. http://www.ncfisheries.net/procs/procs2k9/PT-4-2009.html
RE: STRIPED BASS SEASON – COMMERCIAL FISHING OPERATIONS –
ALBEMARLE SOUND MANAGEMENT AREA
Effective at 8:01 P.M., Tuesday, April 14, 2009, 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 shall 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 2008/2009 STRIPED BASS DEALER PERMIT validated for the Albemarle Sound Management Area. http://www.ncfisheries.net/procs/procs2k9/FF-41-2009.html
MEETINGS:
April 14 - 16 Mid Atlantic Fisheries Management Council
The Sanderling 1461 Duck Rd. Duck, NC 27949
Information: Tel: 1-252-261-4111
April 14, 2009 at 10:30 a.m.
MFC Finfish Advisory Committee Meeting
NCDENR Regional Field Office - 943 Washington Square Mall - Washington, NC
Contact David Taylor at 800-682-2632 or 252-808-8074 or the MFC Office at 252-808-8022
April 16, 2009 at 6:30 a.m.
MFC Northeast Regional Advisory Committee Meeting
Dare County Administrative Building, Room 238 - 954 Marshall Collins Drive - Manteo, NC
Contact Sara Winslow at 252-264-3911 or the MFC Office at 252-808-8022
April 22, 2009 at 4:00 p.m.
MFC Spotted Seatrout Fishery Management Plan Advisory Committee Meeting
Craven County Agricultural Extension Building - 300 Industrial Drive - New Bern, NC
Contact Beth Burns at 252-473-5734 ext. 221 or MFC Office at 800-682-2632 or 252-808-8022
For more information on any item in this update, contact the NCFA office (252) 633-2288.
WEEKLY UPDATE: 04/17/09
NORTH CAROLINA FISHERIES ASSOCIATION
“Serving the Commercial Fishing Families of North Carolina since 1952”
Phone: (252) 633-2288
Raleigh: Sponsors of House Bill 918 gamefish for red drum and spotted seatrout are feeling the pressure; your effort is paying off. Please, if you have not done so already, call your reps and say NO to House Bill 918; Pender/New Hanover counties Carolyn Justice 919-270-4604; Chowan, Dare, Hyde, Washington counties Time Spear 919-715-3029; Carteret/Jones Counties Pat McElraft 919-733-6275; Onslow; George G. Cleveland, 919-715-6707; Onslow; Robert Grady 919-715-9644, Craven County William Wainwright 919-733-5995. Speaker of the House Joe Hackney 919-733-3451. Representative Carolyn Justice, from Hampstead, needs to pull her bill (H 918). She’s a coastal rep not acting in the interests of her commercial constituents; her bill will severely impact many of her own constituents’ livelihoods and keep her own people from having access to these fish at the local markets. Folks in New Hanover and Pender ought to call her and tell her to pull this bill. Her numbers: Office: 919-715-9664 Home: 910-270-4604 (Home number listed as a contact number on her official state page)
Still need to call/e-mail your reps: Representative Darren G. Jackson (Dem), Wake County attorney, and Representative Ty Harrell (Dem) also of Wake County seem to be the new CCA water carriers having introduced several bills last week. Here are the four bills Jackson/Harrell have introduced to regulate further the commercial industry. Call your reps and say no to these bills: No is, sometimes, a good word…
H1344 Prohibit Taking of Menhaden for Reduction. A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO PROHIBIT THE TAKING OF MENHADEN IN STATE COASTAL FISHING WATERS FOR THE PURPOSE OF REDUCTION. The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: SECTION 1. Article 14A of Chapter 113 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read: 7 "§ 113-169.6. Unlawful to take menhaden in State waters for reduction purposes.
H1345 Protect Oyster Sanctuaries. A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO PROHIBIT COMMERCIAL FISHING WITHIN FIVE HUNDRED YARDS OF AN OYSTER SANCTUARY.
H1346 Improve Success of FMPs. A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO PROVIDE THAT FISHERY MANAGEMENT PLANS MUST MEET A STANDARD OF AT LEAST FIFTY PERCENT PROBABILITY OF ACHIEVING THE TARGET MORTALITY RATE FOR THE FISHERY OR FISHERIES.
H1343 Federal Enforcement by Marine Inspectors. Dual enforcement bill! A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO ALLOW MARINE FISHERIES INSPECTORS TO ACCEPT DELEGATION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT POWERS FROM THE NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE.
**What is happening here with all of these bills is the anti-commercial crowd has decided to ignore the Fisheries Reform Act and go around the process and have the legislature take over fisheries management. No process, no public input, no accountability.**
Mid Atlantic Fisheries management Council met in Duck this week; some meeting highlights: Council agreed to send a letter to the NMFS and Commerce to retain Council management control over smooth dogfish and include them in the dogfish FMP and not allow them to go to HMS; Council will be asking the South Atlantic Council to establish a northern management zone for snapper/grouper so that the Mid Atlantic can have some degree of control and input on this fishery, which has moved its range up through the Mid Atlantic region and beyond; LAPP discussion from Canadian fisherman who likes that system. NC fishermen were unanimous in their rejection of that system and spoke well of reasons why to the Council.
Proclamations
RE: RED DRUM-COMMERCIAL FISHING OPERATONS
Effective at 12:01 A.M. Friday, May 1, 2009, the following restrictions will apply to the taking of red drum (channel bass) in a commercial fishing operation: I. HARVEST LIMIT It is unlawful to possess more than seven (7) red drum per day taken in a commercial fishing operation, regardless of the number of individuals or vessels involved. B. Subject to I. A. above, no person may possess red drum incidental to any commercial fishing operation unless the weight of the combined catch of flounder, spotted seatrout and/or striped mullet exceeds the weight of the red drum retained. II. TRANSFER AND SALE A. It is unlawful to transfer red drum from one vessel to another during a fishing operation. B. All red drum shall be sold to a licensed North Carolina seafood fish dealer and the red drum shall be sold prior to the sale of the flounder, spotted seatrout and/or striped mullet component of the landed catch. C. All red drum, flounder, spotted seatrout and/or striped mullet taken in a commercial operation shall remain in the possession of the harvester and be transported together up to the point of sale. http://www.ncfisheries.net/procs/procs2k9/FF-42-2009.html
RE: CRAB, EEL, FISH AND SHRIMP POTS Effective at 7:00 A.M., Monday, April 20, 2009, the following will apply to crab, eel, fish, and shrimp pots: Pots MAY NOT BE SET in the following area from 7:00 A.M. until 3:00 P.M. on Monday, April 20, 2009. I. AREA East Thorofare Bay (Barry Bay) –Carteret County In an area bound by a line beginning at a point on the north shore 34° 55.2697’N – 76° 19.9708’W; running northeasterly to Marker “1” at 34° 55.5410’N – 76° 193928’W; running southeasterly to a point at 34° 55.1437’N – 76° 18.7243’W; running southerly to a point near Hall Point at 34° 54.4493’N – 76° 18.9797’W; running westerly and following the shoreline to the point of beginning. http://www.ncfisheries.net/procs/procs2k9/PT-5-2009.html
**Please see NCDMF website for additional and details of proclamations: http://www.ncfisheries.net/procs/index.html
MEETINGS:
The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries has canceled several committee meetings due to budget constraints. The meetings will be rescheduled after July 1.
Cancelled meetings are:
The Spotted Seatrout Fishery Management Plan Advisory Committee , scheduled for April 22 at 4 p.m. in New Bern.
The Central Regional Advisory Committee , scheduled for April 29 at 6 p.m. in New Bern.
The Southeast Regional Advisory Committee set for May 5 at 6 p.m. in Wilmington.
For more information on any item in this update, contact the NCFA office (252) 633-2288. | |
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