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Contact: Nancy Fish, Marine Fisheries MOREHEAD CITY – The commercial season for flounder harvested from North Carolina’s internal coastal waters will close for the entire month of December. This commercial closure is part of a suite of measures enacted by the N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission as part of the Southern Flounder Fishery Management Plan. The plan was designed to protect declining stocks of the state’s inshore flounder population, which is comprised primarily of very young fish, with few older, more productive spawners. A healthy stock generally has fish of all ages. From Dec. 1 through Dec. 31, it will be unlawful to possess, land, sell, or offer for sale flounder caught in commercial fishing operations. Fish dealers have until 6 p.m. on Dec. 9 to sell, offer for sale, transport or have possession of unfrozen flounder taken from the inshore fishery prior to the closure. For more information about this season closure, please contact David Taylor at 252-726-7021 or 800-682-2632, or visit the Division of Marine Fisheries Web site at: http://www.ncdmf.net/procs/procs2k5/FF-41-2005.htm. To view the Southern Flounder Fishery Management Plan go to http://www.ncdmf.net/download/SouFlouFMP.pdf.
Contact: Nancy Fish, Marine Fisheries RECYCLE THOSE SHELLS! MOREHEAD CITY - You’ve just had your entire family over for an oyster roast and now you need to get rid of the shells. Instead of using them to fill in that hole in your driveway, consider recycling. The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries has collection sites set up in several coastal counties to gather oyster shells from individuals and businesses. The division stockpiles shells and then places them overboard in selected areas to grow more oysters. This is how it works. Oysters begin life as free-floating organisms, but quickly settle to the bottom attaching to hard surfaces. They grow on pilings and concrete, but their favorite, most productive place to grow is on other oyster shells. Contact: Nancy Fish, Marine Fisheries STATE ANNOUNCES PROGRAM FOR OYSTER GARDENERS
Contact: Nancy Fish, Marine Fisheries MOREHEAD CITY- The Marine Fisheries Commission will meet November 17-18 at the Ocracoke Community Center. The meeting is open to the public. On November 16, the commission will hold a public meeting at 7 p.m. at the same location to discuss any fishery issues. For more information, contact Jess Hawkins by email at: Jess.Hawkins@ncmail.net or by calling 1-800-682-2632 or 252-726-7021.November 17, 2005 9:30 a.m. 10 a.m Noon Lunch 4 p.m 5 p.m. Adjourn November 18, 20058:30 a.m. 11:30 a.m. 12:30 p.m. Adjourn MFC Meetings for 2006: NOVEMBER 2, 2005 The Spiny Dogfish Technical Committee recommended a two million pound bycatch cap for fishing years 2006/2007, 2007/2008 and 2008/2009. As a result of their deliberations, the Board decided to maintain the four million pound quota to allow for the utilization of dogfish caught incidental to other fisheries. The federal specifications for the spiny dogfish fishery are still to be determined. The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council has recommended a two million pound bycatch cap with trip limits of 600 pounds in quota periods one (May 1 to October 31) and two (November 1 to April 30) for the fishing years 2006/2007, 2007/2008 and 2008/2009. The National Marine Fisheries Service will set the federal specifications prior to the start of the fishing year on May 1, 2005. The Board also approved Addendum I to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Spiny Dogfish. Addendum I provides the Board with the authority, but not the requirement, to establish spiny dogfish specifications for up to five years. The Mid-Atlantic and New England Fishery Management Councils have already taken similar action under Framework 1, recommending the adoption of multi-year management measures without the requirement of annual review to NOAA Fisheries for final approval. The coastwide spiny dogfish population is considered overfished, but overfishing is not occurring. The 2004 Northeast Fisheries Science Center's trawl survey data shows the seven years of low pup biomass has led to a truncated size range (i.e., low pup and reproductive female biomass) and shows no significant progress towards rebuilding the female spawning stock biomass. The 2004 biomass estimate for spiny dogfish is approximately half of the target biomass. For more information, please contact Ruth Christiansen, Spiny Dogfish Fishery Management Plan Coordinator, at (202)289-6400 or <rchristiansen@asmfc.org>. Tina Berger Public Affairs Specialist Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission 1444 I Street. NW, Sixth Floor Washington, DC 20005 Phone: (202)289-6400 FAX: (202)289-6051 Email: tberger@asmfc.org www.asmfc.org Contact: Nancy Fish, Marine Fisheries
November 1, 2005 Public Hearings Scheduled for Snapper Grouper Amendment 13C Fishermen face reductions in harvest to end overfishing status for four species The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council is holding a series of 11 public hearings to solicit public comment on Amendment 13C to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan. The amendment contains a range of management alternatives to address overfishing for snowy grouper, golden tilefish, vermilion snapper, and black sea bass. Proposed management measures include establishing quotas for all four species, reductions in commercial trip limits and recreational bag limits, seasonal closures, and increases in size limits for some species. Alternatives are also included for moderate increases in the harvest of red porgy as the stock continues to rebuild. During its September 2005 meeting, the Council completed its list of preferred alternatives for the public hearing document. Public hearings will be held in coastal areas in the southeast, beginning on November 7, 2005 and concluding with a final hearing during the Council's December 5-9, 2005 meeting in Carolina Beach, North Carolina. Members of the Council's Snapper Grouper Advisory Panel will provide additional recommendations at the December meeting. The Council is expected to take final action to approve Amendment 13C during the December meeting. Recommended regulations included in the document are anticipated to be in place by summer of 2006. Bob Mahood, Executive Director Email comments to: snappergroupercomments@safmc.net SOUTH ATLANTIC FISHERY MANAGEMENT COUNCIL SNAPPER GROUPER AMENDMENT 13C PUBLIC HEARINGS GEORGIA NORTH CAROLINA Thursday, November 10, 2005 Monday, December 5, 2005 FLORIDA Tuesday, November 8, 2005 Wednesday, November 9, 2005 Thursday, November 10, 2005 Monday, November 28, 2005 SOUTH CAROLINA Wednesday, November 16, 2005 The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, one of eight regional councils, conserves and manages fish stocks from three to 200 miles offshore of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and east Florida. Kim Iverson
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| NC Division of Marine Fisheries - 3441 Arendell Street - Morehead City, NC 28557 - 252-726-7021 or 800-682-2632 |
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