Contact: Patricia Smith
Date: Nov. 9, 2007
Phone: (252) 726-7021

MARINE FISHERIES COMMISSION TO MEET NEXT WEEK

MOREHEAD CITY – The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission will hold its regular business meeting and public comment period Nov. 14-16 in Ocracoke.

Agenda items include selection of preferred management options for the oyster, hard clam, kingfish and inter-jurisdictional fishery management plans. These plans will then be sent to the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources and to the Joint Legislative Commission on Seafood and Aquaculture for review. The schedule also calls for final approval of rules to implement a Bay Scallop Fishery Management Plan.

The commission plans to continue its study of limited access privilege programs with a presentation sponsored by Environmental Defense. Additionally, Scott Crosson, DMF socioeconomics program manager, will release results of a survey of North Carolina commercial fishermen concerning their views on limited access privilege programs.

The business meeting begins at 9 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 15 and 8:30 a.m. Friday, Nov. 16 at the Community Center in Ocracoke. A public comment period will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 14 at the same location.

Meeting agenda is below ...

MARINE FISHERIES COMMISSION BUSINESS MEETING
THE COMMUNITY CENTER, OCRACOKE NC
NOVEMBER 14-16, 2007

Executive Order One mandates the Chair inquire as to whether any member knows of any known conflict of interest or appearance of conflict with respect to matters before the commission. If any member knows of a conflict of interest or appearance of conflict, please so state at this time in accordance with N.C.G.S. 138A-15(e).

November 14
7 p.m. Public Meeting

November 15
9 a.m. Call to Order*
Executive Order One
Roll Call
Approval of Agenda**
Approval of September Business Meeting Summary**
9:15 a.m. Public Comment
9:45 a.m. Issues from Commission Members
10 a.m. Chairman’s Report
MFC Advisor Appointments
Action Update
10:30 a.m. Committee Reports
Habitat and Water Quality – Dr. B.J. Copeland
Northeast – Sara Winslow
Central – Mike Marshall
Southeast – Rich Carpenter
Inland – Nancy Fish
Crustacean – Mikey Daniels
Oyster/Clam FMP AC – Mike Marshall
Red Drum FMP AC – Lee Paramore
Strategic Habitat Area Advisory Committee – Mike Street
CHPP Annual Report – Jimmy Johnson
-Approve Report**

Noon Lunch
1:30 p.m. Limited Access Privilege Program Examination
Survey Results – Scott Crosson
LAPPs 101: An introduction to the performance of LAPPs in US and shared-stock Canadian fisheries – Dietmar Grimm, Redstone Group
3:30 p.m. Fishery Management Plans
Oyster FMP – Mike Marshall
-Review Public and Advisory Committee Comments
-Select Preferred Management Options**
-Send to DENR and Seafood and Aquaculture**
Hard Clam FMP – Tina Moore
-Review Public and Advisory Committee Comments
-Select Preferred Management Options**
-Send to DENR and Seafood and Aquaculture**
Bay Scallop FMP – Tina Moore
-Final Approval of Implementing Rules and FMP**
15A NCAC 03K .0102, .0103, .0304, .0501, .0506
5:30 p.m. Recess

November 16
8:30 a.m. FMPs (continued)
Kingfish FMP – Chip Collier and John Schoolfield
-Review Public and Advisory Committee Comments
-Select Preferred Management Options**
-Send to DENR and Seafood and Aquaculture**
IJ FMP – Katy West
-Review Public and Advisory Committee Comments
-Select Preferred Management Options**
-Send to DENR and Seafood and Aquaculture**
10 a.m. License and Statistics Annual Report – Don Hesselman
10:15 a.m. Rules
Final Approval for Permanent Rules
SCFL Eligibility - Final Approval** - Rich Carpenter
15A NCAC 03O .0402 - .0404
Notice of Text
Transfer criteria for Eligibility Pool SCFL** - Rich Carpenter
15A NCAC 03O .0108
Committee Referral
Pound Net (removal of gear/gear clean up period)** -Katy West
TED rules (to enforce federal requirements)** - Katy West
Recreational Shrimp Limits – Rich Carpenter
Mechanical Retrieval of RCGL Trawls – Rich Carpenter
10:45 a.m. Suspension of Rules – David Taylor
Snapper Grouper**
11 a.m. Director’s Report
Legislative Update
Coastal Recreational Fishing License
Waterfront Access Marine Industry Fund
ASMFC
FMP Guidelines – Mike Marshall
Mechanical Harvest Effort Options – Mike Marshall
Highly Migratory Species – Dr. Louis Daniel
Marine Patrol Report – Col. Rex Lanier
Council Nomination Process – Red Munden
Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council – Red Munden
South Atlantic Fishery Management Council – Brian Cheuvront
12:30 p.m. Adjourn

* Times indicated are merely for guidance. The Commission will proceed through the agenda until completed.
**Action Items

2008 Meeting Schedule
-January 24 & 25 Marriott, Carolina Beach
-April 22 & 23   City Hotel and Bistro, Greenville
-June 19 & 20      Brownstone, Downtown Raleigh
-September 25 & 26  Clamdigger Inn, Pine Knoll Shores
-November 6 & 7   Ramada Inn, Kill Devil Hills