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January 29, 2004

OYSTER GARDEN WORKSHOPS ANNOUNCED

Oyster Growers Needed for Pilot Project

MOREHEAD CITY - A series of workshops will be held along the North Carolina coast in mid February to solicit applications for a new two-year project to study the feasibility of allowing private pier owners to grow oysters under their docks.

All workshops will begin at 7 p.m. and will be held:

The state Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) is soliciting up to 50 participants to grow oysters in bags or cages under private docks in approved coastal waters. Applicants will be selected based on geographical distribution and suitability of waters. Only participants with docks located in waters approved and conditionally approved by the state Office of Shellfish Sanitation will be allowed to participate in the pilot project. Docks located in waters permanently closed to shellfish harvest will not be considered due to health concerns.

For more information please contact Clay Caroon, DMF - Morehead City, by e-mail at clay.caroon@ncmail.net or by calling 800-682-2632 or 252-726-7021.

January 28, 2004

MARINE FISHERIES COMMISSION TO MEET Feb. 2 - 3

MOREHEAD CITY -- The Marine Fisheries Commission will meet February 2 - 3 at the Hilton, 207 Greenville Blvd., in Greenville.

The meeting is open to the public.

On February 2, a business meeting will be held at beginning at 1 p.m.

On February 3, beginning at 10 a.m., the commission will meet with its advisors to discuss fisheries management in North Carolina since the passage of the 1997 Fisheries Reform Act.

For more information, contact Jess Hawkins by e-mail at: Jess.Hawkins@ncmail.net or by calling 1-800-682-2632 or 252-726-7021.

Please be sure to visit http://www.ncdmf.net/mfc/advisor.html to review summaries of past commission meetings.

See Agenda

MARINE PATROL ANNOUNCES NEW HIRES AND PROMOTION

MOREHEAD CITY - The North Carolina Marine Patrol, law enforcement branch of the state Division of Marine Fisheries, has announced the following promotion and new hires:

Shephard "Rock" Newman has been promoted to Chief Pilot with the aviation unit, headquartered in Morehead City. The Marine Patrol uses both fixed wing aircraft and helicopters in the course of their enforcement duties. Chief Warrant Officer Newman is alsoa Firearms, Physical Training, and ASP Baton Instructor, certified through the state's Criminal Justice Training and Standards. Newman has been with the Marine Patrol since 1993 and has held the positions of field officer and warrant officer pilot. He previously served as sergeant with the Kinston Police Department.

Erik Reid Smith is a new field officer working in the Washington/Tyrrell County area. He has an Associate Degree in General Education. Prior to his employment with the division, Smith worked as a deputy and a K-9 officer in the Craven County Sheriff's Department and spent a number of years working as a commercial fisherman in the Pamlico County area.

Michele Klingele is a new field officer working in the Beaufort County area. She holds a B.A. degree in Political Science and Criminal Justice and has 11 years of law enforcement experience working as an agent with the Alcohol Law Enforcement Division and as a trooper with the N.C. Highway Patrol.

William Register is a new field officer working in the Pender County area. He holds a B.S. degree in Information Technology. Register previously worked as a police officer for the Wilmington Police Department and served 11 years as a U.S. Navy SEAL.

The Marine Patrol has 59 sworn law enforcement officer positions along the coast and it's jurisdiction includes all coastal waters extending to 3 miles offshore, and out to 200 miles offshore for some federally regulated species. Officers monitor 2.5 million acres of water and over 4,000 miles of coastline. Along with inspecting commercial and recreational boats, Marine Patrol officers also check seafood markets, fish dealers, restaurants, piers, beaches and vehicles carrying seafood.

For more information about the case, please contact Colonel Joe Lynch, N.C. Marine Patrol, by e-mail at joe.lynch@ncmail.net or by phone at 252-726-7021 or 800-682-2632.

Shephard "Rock" Newman	Michele Klingele
William Register	Erik Reid Smith

Larger versions of the Newman, Klingele, and Register photos are available. Click on the small image to download.

January 22, 2004

ANGLER PLEADS "GUILTY" IN UNDERSIZED MARLIN CASE

MOREHEAD CITY - Virginia resident Randy Abbitt, captain of the fishing vessel Saga, pled guilty to possessing an undersized blue marlin during the Pirate's Cove 20th Annual Billfish Tournament in Manteo on Aug. 15, 2003.

Abbitt, 51, of 53 James River Lane in Newport News, also pled guilty to resisting a public officer in discharging a duty of his office.

He was given a prayer for judgment on both charges by Dare County District Court and ordered to pay the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries $446.12 for replacement and investigative costs. Abbitt also paid $200 in court costs and also agreed to donate $1,000 to the Dare County Friends of Youth and $1,000 to the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries Endowment Fund.

Abbitt's blue marlin was just under 94 inches - well below the 99-inch state and federal legal minimum size and over 16 inches short of the tournament's 110-inch minimum standard.

For more information about the case, please contact Colonel Joe Lynch, N.C. Marine Patrol, by e-mail at joe.lynch@ncmail.net or by phone at 252-726-7021 or 800-682-2632.

January 14, 2004

FEDS REOPEN DOGFISH SEASON

MOREHEAD CITY - Fishermen are advised NOAA Fisheries reopened the commercial season for spiny dogfish in the federal waters (3 to 200 miles offshore) on January 12.

Fishermen who hold a Spiny Dogfish Permit may possess up to 300 pounds of spiny dogfish per trip per calendar day.

In the meantime, North Carolina's commercial spiny dogfish season, which opened Jan.1, allows a daily landing limit of 2,000 pounds per day until the state's quota of 500,000 pounds is taken. The season is in compliance with the fisheries management plan for spiny dogfish developed by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission.

After consultation with NOAA Fisheries, state Division of Marine Fisheries staff was advised federal permit holders must abide by the more restrictive limit of 300 pounds of spiny dogfish per trip, regardless of whether the fish were caught in state or federal waters. In order to exceed the 300-pound limit and land up to the 2,000 pounds, federal permit holders must relinquish their federal permits.

For questions about federal spiny dogfish permits, fishermen should contact:

Northeast Region Permit Office
One Blackburn Drive
Gloucester, MA 01930
978-281-9370 (phone) and 978-281-9109 (fax)

For more information on the spiny dogfish management in North Carolina, please contact Red Munden, Division of Marine Fisheries, at 252-726-7021 or 800-682-2632.

January 7, 2004

SPINY DOGFISH FRAUGHT WITH PRICKLY PERMITS

Fishermen Need to Cancel Federal Permits to Land Dogfish in N.C.

MOREHEAD CITY - Regional management of migratory fish is complex and often difficult to follow, but spiny dogfish, a small species of shark popular along the East Coast, is downright confusing.

North Carolina opened its commercial spiny dogfish season on January 1, allowing a daily landing limit of 2,000 pounds per day until the state's quota of 500,000 pounds is taken. Fish dealers are required to obtain a permit from the state if they purchase dogfish and must report those landings daily so the quota can be closely monitored. The season is in compliance with the fisheries management plan for spiny dogfish developed by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission.

NOAA Fisheries closed the commercial harvest of spiny dogfish in federal waters (3 to 200 miles offshore) on July 18, 2003. Fishermen holding federal spiny dogfish permits were advised they could not land any dogfish from either federal or state waters during the closed season. In addition, dealers holding federal spiny dogfish permits were advised they could not purchase spiny dogfish from federally permitted spiny dogfish vessels until the federal season reopens April 30, 2004.

After the season opening, fishermen began contacting the state Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) seeking advice on how they could legally land spiny dogfish at Tar Heel ports. After consulting with NOAA Fisheries, DMF staff are advising fishermen and dealers they should cancel their federal spiny dogfish permits before landing or purchasing dogfish landed in North Carolina or they could face federal penalties. Fishermen and dealers simply have to reapply to get the federal permits back in time for the spring opening.

To cancel a federal spiny dogfish permit, fishermen should contact:

Northeast Region Permit Office
One Blackburn Drive
Gloucester, MA 01930
978-281-9370 (phone) and 978-281-9109 (fax)

For more information on the spiny dogfish management in North Carolina, please contact Red Munden, Division of Marine Fisheries, at 252-726-7021 or 800-682-2632.

January 6, 2004

MARINE FISHERIES COMMISSION TO MEET JAN. 12 - 13

MOREHEAD CITY -- The Marine Fisheries Commission will meet January 12 - 13 at the Holiday Inn, 5032 Market Street in Wilmington.

The meeting is open to the public.

On January 12, a public meeting will be held at 7 p.m. for anyone wanting to address the commission regarding fisheries issues.

On January 13, a business meeting will be held beginning at 9 a.m.

For more information, contact Jess Hawkins by e-mail at Jess.Hawkins@ncmail.net or by calling 1-800-682-2632 or 252-726-7021.

Please be sure to visit http://www.ncdmf.net/mfc/advisor.html to review summaries of past commission meetings.

NOTE: Meeting Agenda