THE MFC ADVISOR

Marine Fisheries Commission Business Meeting
Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina
April 26-27, 2007


The Marine Fisheries Commission and the Division of Marine Fisheries 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 and rulemaking proceedings. Hopefully this bulletin will keep you better informed about commission activities. Your comments regarding this update are 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 Feb. 26-27 at the Ramada Inn in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina. The following members were in attendance: Mac Currin - Chairman, Dr. B.J. Copeland -Vice Chairman, David Beresoff, Dr. Barbara Garrity-Blake, Mikey Daniels, Dr. Jim Leutze, Rusty Russ, Bradley Styron and Marshall Williford.

Motions and Actions
Motion to approve the April 2007 meeting agenda – motion passed unanimously.

Motion to approve minutes with modifications from the February 2007 MFC meeting – motion passed unanimously.

Issues from Commissioners
Commissioner Beresoff asked the MFC and DMF to consider allowing three additional red drum above the 50/50 rule with a maximum of 10 fish to utilize discards. The MFC supported this proposal by consensus and will ask the Red Drum FMP Advisory Committee to consider this proposal.

Commissioner Leutze discussed concerns he had about monitoring the river herring fishery, stressing there needed to be a plan on how the DMF was going to accomplish this task. Dr. Louis Daniel, DMF Director, responded that a detailed monitoring plan was included in the River Herring Fishery Management Plan.

Commissioner Leutze also expressed an interest in exploring the possibility of limiting the number of coastal recreational fishermen and will be doing national research on this issue because there is an increasing number of people pursuing a declining resource. A discussion ensued regarding the licensing structure established under the 1997 Fisheries Reform Act.

Commissioner Daniels wanted to know when the MFC and DMF would relax restrictions on the harvest of red drum, especially the bigger fish and suggested a lottery be established to allow a limited number of people to be able to keep a large drum.

Commissioner Garrity-Blake discussed the special meeting the MFC held May 22, 2006, to hear concerns from fishermen regarding the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and regional management councils. She wanted to know what more is being done on this matter and if the North Carolina Congressional delegation had been copied on letters sent by the MFC to the ASMFC and the NMFS. The Congressional delegation was sent copies of the letters. Commissioner Garrity-Blake advocated the MFC send another letter to the state’s federal elected officials letting them know federal management has been a detriment to North Carolina’s commercial and recreational fishermen. Commissioner Copeland felt it would be more effective if individual fishermen or trade organizations contacted their elected officials. Commissioner Leutze felt the MFC needed to take action and let people know what is going on and this might help gain the trust of the fishing community. Commissioner Daniels expressed an interest in letting Governor Easley know what was going on with federal and regional management issues.

Waterfront Access Study Committee
Mike Violand, Executive Director of North Carolina Sea Grant, gave the MFC an overview of the final report of the Waterfront Access Study Committee. Visit http://www.ncseagrant.org/files/WASC_FINAL_web.pdf to view the report.

Committee Recommendations
The MFC received reports and updates from all of its advisory committees that met during March and April.

Fishery Management Plans
The commission was given an update on the status of the fishery management plans that are in the process of being developed or reviewed.

Red Drum FMP – The advisory committee reviewing this FMP held its first meeting April 3, discussing the draft timeline, current management strategies (state and ASMFC), revised goals and objectives, and proposed FMP amendments/issues.

Motion to approve the goals and objectives of the Red Drum FMP – motion passed unanimously.

By consensus the MFC approved the draft timeline for the Red Drum FMP.

King Fish FMP – The MFC was given a detailed overview of this fishery management plan, which is in the final stages of development.

Motion to approve the King Fish FMP for public meetings – motion passed unanimously.

Visit http://www.ncdmf.net/fmps/index.html to view these FMPs.

Suspension of Rules
Motion to re-suspend the rules to continue to have zero-harvest of river herring in state waters – motion passed unanimously.

Motion to re-suspend the rules to implement the Amendment 13C measures of the Snapper-Grouper Fishery Management Plan in state waters – motion passed.

Coastal Recreational Fishing License
The MFC was given an overview of the DMF’s funding and administration proposals for the CRFL, along with overviews of ways license revenues could be used to improve the DMF's recreational and socioeconomic data and the Independent Adult Assessment Survey. The CRFL Strategic Plan and Procedures Document were also reviewed.

Motion to approve CRFL Strategic Plan – motion passed unanimously.

Motion to approve CRFL Procedures Document as amended – motion passed unanimously.

Motion to not spend any interest from the CRFL Endowment Fund until notified by the MFC/WRC CRFL Committee – motion passed unanimously.

Motion to approve no more than $100,000 for educational materials related to implementation of the CRFL and for no more than $200,000 for the Chowan River Bridge Access project – motion passed unanimously.

2006 Landings Report
Seafood brought to North Carolina docks in 2006 totaled 68.6 million pounds, an amount nearly 14 percent lower than in 2005. Finfish catches (without menhaden) were down 5 percent from 2005 and 15 percent from the previous five-year average, though catches increased for some managed species like southern flounder and red drum. However, not all finfish catches were down. It was a good year for speckled trout, tilefish and yellowfin tuna. The total value of the commercial harvest increased by $5 million to $70 million in 2006. Go to http://www.ncdmf.net/news/NR2k7/NR-12-07.html to read the news release on this report.

To learn more about North Carolina’s commercial and recreational seafood landings, visit http://www.ncdmf.net/statistics/comstat/index.html .

For-Hire Blanket CRFL/For-Hire Fishing Permit Eligibility Requirements
There has been recent discussion by some in the charter boat industry to require additional eligibility requirements to limit the number of participants. The MFC received an update on the For-Hire Blanket CRFL and eligibility requirements to obtain a For-Hire Fishing Permit, both of which require U.S. Coast Guard certification. The MFC was informed further potential restrictive requirements could possibly be considered limited entry and would require action by the General Assembly. Chairman Mac Currin has been asked to hold a meeting with the industry to explore this issue. It was brought to the MFC’s attention that there was an ongoing Fisheries Resource Grant to gauge the socioeconomic impact of the charter boat industry, that included an industry workshop. The MFC determined it should wait until the results from the grant were available before taking action. Chairman Currin indicated he would contact the researchers associated with this grant to see if they could add additional questions to their survey about this issue.

Moratorium Steering Committee Recommendations/Fisheries Reform Act
The MFC received a summary of the discussion held at the February meeting regarding the effectiveness of the Moratorium Steering Committee recommendations and the 1997 Fisheries Reform Act. Commissioner Garrity-Blake questioned the DMF wanting to know if there were changes or adjustments that needed to be made. Dr. Daniel indicated he felt restrictions on establishing limited entry needed to be relaxed. At its June meeting the MFC is going to receive a presentation on Limited Access Privilege Programs, which are similar to Individual Transferable Quotas. LAPPs are becoming more prevalent as a management strategy with the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council; however, they are a form of limited entry. There was discussion for a LAPP to be effective it would have to have support and involvement of the commercial industry.

Dr. Daniel also indicated the DMF is going to start a review process for FMP-managed fisheries. Are the FMPs successful or not, and why. What role does regulatory burden play, or market conditions, or fuel prices, along with other issues, in the status of a FMP-managed fishery.

Commissioner Garrity-Blake wanted to know what could be done to promote U.S. seafood, especially local products. Niche marketing was discussed, along with programs like Carteret Catch. There was also mention of federal money that went to the Southern Shrimp Alliance to promote USA-caught shrimp.

Commission Beresoff talked about making sure all recommendations in a FMP are implemented, whether it is pushing for additional funding or insisting on greater habitat protection.

Commissioner Leutze expressed concern law enforcement was not receiving any funding from the CRFL. They are being given additional responsibilities, but no additional funding.

Commisoners Garrity-Blake and Leutze want to form an ad hoc committee to work on restoring relations between fishing communities and the MFC and DMF.

Meeting adjourned.

2007 Meeting Schedule:
June 26-27 Brownstone, Raleigh
Sept. 6-7 Clam Digger, Pine Knoll Shores
Nov. 15-16 Community Center, Ocracoke