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Contact: Patricia Smith FISHING REEF/OYSTER SANCTUARY TO BE PLACED NEAR ENGELHARD MOREHEAD CITY – The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries is seeking public input on where to place a proposed 30-acre coastal fishing reef/oyster sanctuary near Engelhard. DMF’s Oyster Sanctuary program has determined three possible sites lying between the northern shore of Long Shoal River and Wysocking Bay near a current cultch planting site, said Craig Hardy, chief of DMF’s Resource Enhancement Section. “We feel like they’re suitable for oyster recruitment, survival, all the criteria for an oyster sanctuary,” Hardy said. “We also feel they’re suitable because there is good recreational fishing access from Engelhard.” DMF wants to hear from fishermen and others regarding they types of activities that occur in these areas. Shellfishing, gill netting and the use of bottom-disturbing gear, such as oyster dredges and shrimp trawls, will be prohibited in the sanctuary. However, hook-and-line fishing will be allowed, and the placement of suitable habitat for oysters will in turn attract several species of finfish, which may be caught. Maps of the proposed sites can be downloaded from the DMF Web site at http://www.ncdmf.net/news/releases/2009/jan2009.html. DMF plans to build the reef/sanctuary with a $445,560 grant funded by revenues from the Coastal Recreational Fishing License. Fishermen and others may comment on the proposed sites at a public meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Hyde County Government Center, Multi-purpose Room (County Commissioner's Room), 30 Oyster Creek Street, Swan Quarter. Written comments will be accepted through Jan. 31 and may be sent by mail to N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries Oyster Sanctuary Program, P.O. Box 769, Morehead City, N.C. 28557 or by e-mail to stopher.slade@ncmail.net. For questions or comments prior to the meeting, contact Stopher Slade, N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries, 1-800-682-2632, ext. 8055, or (252) 808-8055. |