THE MFC ADVISOR
Marine Fisheries
Commission Business Meeting
Greenville, North
Carolina
February 2, 2004
The Marine Fisheries Commission (MFC) and the Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) continue to look for ways to keep committee advisors and the public informed about commission activities. It is our intent to publish the MFC Advisor after each business meeting, summarizing the meeting, and providing a list of motions, actions, and rulemaking proceedings. Agenda items are listed in bold type to assist in navigating the document. Hopefully, this bulletin will keep you better informed about commission activities. Your comments regarding this update re always appreciated – please contact Nancy Fish by e-mail at Nancy.Fish@ncmail.net or by phone at 252-726-7021 or 1-800-682-2632.
The MFC held a business meeting February 2 -3 at the Hilton in Greenville, North Carolina. The meeting on February 2 was a standard business meeting. The MFC held a joint meeting with their advisory committees on February 3.
The February 2 business meeting was called to order followed by an invocation. A roll call was conducted and the following members were in attendance: Jimmy Johnson – Chairman, Bryan Gillikin - Vice Chairman, Norm Bradford, Dr. B.J. Copeland, Mac Currin, Dr. Barbara Garrity-Blake, Tilman Gray, Rusty Russ, and Bradley Styron.
Motion:
Motion was made to accept the minutes from the last meeting with minor corrections – motion passed unanimously.
During the Public Comment Period, Bill Mandulak, representative of the Coastal Conservation Association – NC, stated that the CCA supported closing the recreational ocean striped bass fishery in the hot summer months. Striped bass stress very easily in hot temperatures and there is a higher mortality in the catch and release fishery at this time. Mr. Mandulak also said the CCA wants the MFC and the DMF to solicit a longer angler season for bluefin tuna. This is an important fishery to the charter community. He then asked the commission to consider putting a weight limit on the commercial striped bass ocean gill net fishery to help avoid high grading.
Flounder Size Limit in Internal Waters Rules Suspension – The DMF increased the internal size limit for flounder in most areas from 13 inches to 14 inches by proclamation in an attempt to slow the recreational harvest rate and not exceed the harvest target for summer flounder set by the ASMFC and the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council. To change the size limit the DMF director had to suspend the existing rule. The rule needs to be resuspended at each subsequent MFC meeting, until a new rule is implemented.
Motion:
Motion was made to resuspend the flounder size limit rules in inside waters and continue the increased size limit – motion passed unanimously.
Primary Nursery Area Rule Suspension – In updating rule coordinates, DMF staff discovered an inaccuracy in a PNA line in Mallard’s Bay in Brunswick County. In 1985 the boundary line was incorrectly recorded, which inadvertently opened a small portion of a PNA to shrimp trawling. The area is on the shoulder of the Intracoastal Waterway and at this time it is not clear if it still functions as a PNA. The DMF asked the MFC to suspend the portion of the rule that designates this area as a PNA and allow staff to conduct studies to ascertain if the area still meets PNA criteria.
Motion:
Motion was made to suspend a portion of the Primary Nursery Area Rule [03R.0103 (15)(d)] that pertains to Mallard’s Bay to accommodate the situation – motion passed unanimously.
Menhaden Rule Suspension – Beaufort Fisheries requested the DMF suspend the menhaden rule and allow menhaden boats to go within one mile of shore. Staff checked with Joe Smith of NOAA Fisheries and he felt this would not impact the menhaden resource. The boats would be back offshore before the spring/summer recreational fishing season would begin. Commission Currin requested an ending date on the proclamation.
Motion:
Motion was made to approve menhaden rule suspension – motion passed.
Public Hearings – Rules for hand harvest areas for oysters, Crab and Shrimp Economic Assistance programs, and the Striped Bass FMP need to go out to public hearings. The commission decided to have four to five hearings sometime between mid-February through mid-April. Hearing dates will be announced as soon as locations are secured.
Rulemaking Petition – Kelly Schoolcraft’s petition to create a limited entry system for the commercial striped bass ocean fishery, which was submitted at the last MFC meeting on 1/13/04, has not yet been reviewed by the MFC attorney.
Reports were given on all the various MFC and FMP committee activities.
A presentation was given on the proposed recommendations to revise the Blue Crab FMP.
Motion:
Motion was made to send the recommendations of the Blue Crab FMP out to public meetings – motion passed unanimously.
Vince O’Shea, Director of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC), and DMF Director Pres Pate advised the MFC regarding Management Options for Spiny Dogfish and compliance with the ASMFC Spiny Dogfish FMP.
Meeting Adjourned
MFC Meetings for 2004:
May 12-14 New Bern
July 20-21 Jacksonville
Sept. 27-29 Kill Devil Hills