NCDMF News November 2002



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MECHANICAL CLAM SEASON DELAYED UNTIL DECEMBER 16

MOREHEAD CITY - The opening of the mechanical clam harvest season, which was scheduled to begin on December 2, 2002, has been delayed until December 16, 2002.

The reason for the delay is the poor market conditions existing coast-wide in the seafood industry in general and the regional clam market in particular. The original proclamation was issued in early November so that fishermen and dealers could plan for the fishing season. Since that time, however, many fishermen and dealers have contacted the Division asking for the delay in hopes that market conditions will improve with colder weather in the northeastern part of the country.

As in last year's season, 4,600 acres of clamming area located in Southeast Pamlico Sound will open, while a similarly-sized northern portion of Core Sound will remain closed. Rotation of these two areas was recommended in the Hard Clam Fishery Management Plan in order to rebuild stocks in Northern Core Sound.

Recent sampling results indicate a large number of small sublegal clams, also known as "buttons," in the Northern Core Sound area. In order to protect these small clams, Northern Core Sound will remain closed during the upcoming season. Clamming areas in the New and White Oak rivers have been successfully rotated for the last 20 years.

A restricted harvest will be allowed from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, in the following areas:

Areas Daily Harvest Limits

Areas within the Intercoastal
Waterway from Marker #65,
South of Salliers Bay, to the "BC" Marker
White Oak River 25 bags (6,250 clams)

Bogue Sound, Newport and North rivers 15 bags (3,750 clams)

Core and Pamlico sounds; 20 bags (5,000 clams)

Mechanical harvest will be prohibited on Wednesday, December 25, 2002.

For more information, please contact David Taylor, DMF-Morehead City, at 252-726-7021 or 800-682-2632.

MARINE FISHERIES COMMISSION SEEKS STRIPED MULLET ADVISORS

MOREHEAD CITY – The North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission is looking for interested individuals to serve as advisors in developing the Striped Mullet Fishery Management Plan (FMP).

The advisory committee will be composed of representatives from the commercial, recreational and scientific communities to assist in developing long-term management goals for striped mullet.

FMPs include information on the nature and concerns of the fishery, habitat and water quality issues, and status of the stock. The goal of the FMP will be to develop management options for the stocks to address issues and concerns. The FMP will be prepared by the Division of Marine Fisheries.

Individuals interested in serving as advisors should be willing to attend meetings at least once every two months and actively participate in the committee process. Advisors will be reimbursed for travel and other expenses incurred in relation to their official duties.

Advisor applications are available at Division of Marine Fisheries’ offices or by calling 252-726-7021 or 800-682-2632. The advisory committee is scheduled to begin meeting in January 2003 so applications should be retuned as soon as possible to the Division of Marine Fisheries, P.O. Box 769, Morehead City, North Carolina 28557, Attention: Stephanie Bodine.

For information about striped mullet and the advisory committee process, please contact Rich Wong by e-mail at richard.wong@ncmail.net or by calling 252-726-7021 or 800-682-2632.

MECHANICAL CLAM SEASON BEGINS DECEMBER 2

MOREHEAD CITY- The mechanical clam harvest season will open at 7:30 a.m. on Monday December 2, in Carteret, Onslow and Pender counties.

A restricted harvest will be allowed from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, in the following areas:

Mechanical harvest will be prohibited on Wednesday, December 25, 2002.

For more information, please contact David Taylor, DMF-Morehead City, at 252-726-7021 or 800-682-2632.

SHELLFISH LEASE MEETING TO BE HELD NOV. 6

MOREHEAD CITY - The Marine Fisheries Commission's (MFC) Shellfish Advisory Committee will meet on Nov. 6, at 6 p.m. in Room 205 of the C-MAST Building, 303 College Circle, in Morehead City.

The Shellfish Committee will meet to review North Carolina's Shellfish Lease Program and recommendations from the MFC's regional advisory committees. Some of the recommendations include the more timely enforcement of lease production requirements, the transfer of unproductive leases to new leaseholders, the training of new leaseholders, the acreage limit of new leases to 5 acres, and the limiting of individual lease holding to 50 acres, regardless of corporate affiliations.

The public is encouraged to attend the meeting and provide comments on the recommendations concerning shellfish leases.

Harvest of oysters and clams from public and leased bottoms provides numerous jobs for coastal North Carolina. Shellfish aquaculture on leased bottom has the potential to increase seafood production, increase employment in the seafood industry, and improve fisheries habitats, if properly managed. However, in some areas such as Core Sound, shellfish leases are controversial.

In early 2002, the Core Sound Stakeholders Committee, and the MFC's Shellfish Advisory Committee provided ten recommendations on shellfish leases for Core Sound. The suggestions addressed several problems and issues regarding shellfish leases specific to Core Sound. The MFC felt the recommendations could possibly be applied coastwide and requested its regional advisory committees review the proposals and provide advice on the issues.

For further information on this meeting, contact Mike Marshall or Jess Hawkins at 1-800-682-2632 or 1-252-726-7021.

Areas	Daily Harvest Limits
Areas within the Intercoastal Waterway from Marker #65, South of Salliers Bay, to the "BC" Marker White Oak River	25 bags (6,250 clams)
Bogue Sound, Newport and North rivers	15 bags (3,750 clams)
Core and Pamlico sounds;	20 bags (5,000 clams)