NCDMF News January 2008

MOREHEAD CITY – New fisheries rules will go into effect Friday to implement a Bay Scallop Fishery Management Plan and make changes to requirements for receiving a commercial fishing license through an eligibility pool.

Though the rules are changing now for future years, the bay scallop season will remain closed until further notice under the Bay Scallop Fishery Management Plan.

New rules to implement the Bay Scallop plan will:
Allow the director of the Division of Marine Fisheries to establish shellfish management areas for bay scallops and clarifies that the harvest of all shellfish is prohibited in these areas
Combine two existing rules to clarify that the use of bull rakes are prohibited in seagrass beds
Eliminate the December bay scallop harvest season and shorten the January through May harvest season
Repeal an antiquated rule that prohibits soaking bay scallops
Changes to rules pertaining to the Eligibility Pool for a Standard Commercial Fishing License will:
Remove application criteria and Eligibility Board meeting dates pertaining to the years 1999 and 2000
Delete a procedure for a random drawing of applications from the eligibility pool that has yet to be necessary
Eliminate a requirement that the Eligibility Board meet at least quarterly to review applications
Eliminate seldom used and redundant income criterion for receiving a Standard Commercial Fishing License
Relax requirements pertaining to those who hail from traditional fishing families and those who are younger than age 16, who have worked with others in commercial fishing

A supplement to the rulebook reflecting these changes will be available Friday on the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries Web site at http://www.ncdmf.net/download/index.html.

For more information regarding the bay scallop rules, contact DMF Biologist Tina Moore at (252) 726-7021 or (800) 682-2632. For more information regarding eligibility requirements for the Standard Commercial Fishing License Eligibility Pool, contact DMF Southern District Manager Rich Carpenter at (910) 796-7215 or (800) 248-4536.

MOREHEAD CITY – Mike Street was not expecting what he got when he came to the state Division of Marine Fisheries Monday to clean out his office.

He was asked to attend the end of a senior staff meeting, one like he had been to so many times as chief of the division’s Habitat Protection Section. He knew he would be receiving his retirement certificates there.

“I was surprised,” Street said, and it showed in his face as the Division of Marine Fisheries Director Louis Daniel revealed the Order of the Long Leaf Pine.

The Order of the Long Leaf Pine is the highest honor the governor can bestow on a North Carolina resident. It is presented to residents with a proven record of service to the state.

He started in January 1970 as an assistant biologist on the R/V Dan Moore tagging ocean fishes, monitoring fish stocks and observing foreign fishing off the North Carolina coast. He moved to Elizabeth City in 1972 to start a regional office there.

Street returned to Morehead City in 1975 to become chief of Fisheries Management. During this period, he advised the U.S. State Department in foreign fisheries negotiations, including with the Soviet Union. These negotiations led to the development of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the law that governs all fishing in federal waters of the United States.

He held various other positions before starting the division’s Habitat Protection Section in 1999, which focused primarily on the development of the Coastal Habitat Protection Plan, which is a blueprint for comprehensive management of the coastal zone for the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Street said he plans to spend his retirement volunteering in the areas of fisheries management and education and in habitat protection. He also plans to continue his work with Carteret County Habitat for Humanity.

He said he will need to memorize the Order of the Long Leaf Pine toast. He plans to attend a family event in Atlanta in February. He may give the toast there, though he is not sure his audience will understand the gravity of what has been said.

Unexpected moment: Mike Street, left, reacts with surprise as Fisheries Director Louis Daniel presents him with the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the highest honor the governor can bestow on a North Carolina resident. It is given to residents in recognition of a proven record of service or some other special achievement. Street retired Jan. 1 after 38 years with the division. (Click on photo to download high-resolution version.)

Fisheries License Office Temporarily Close Feb 4

Morehead City - The Division of Marine Fisheries License office in Columbia will be closed February 4 from 11:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. due to a training session. The office will resume regular hours on February 5.

MARINE FISHERIES COMMISSION TO MEET IN CAROLINA BEACH

MOREHEAD CITY – The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission will meet Jan. 23-25 at the Marriott Hotel in Carolina Beach.

Agenda items include an annual summary of the first year of the Coastal Recreational Fishing License. The Division of Marine Fisheries will present a socio-economic analysis of information garnered from the new license.

The commission is also scheduled to review and approve for public comment a draft update to the state’s Red Drum Fishery Management Plan. Key issues that have come up in the development of this plan include the possible extension of a gill net attendance season, the potential increase of the commercial trip limit and the implementation of a seasonal buffer zone from the shoreline for large-mesh gill nets.

Additionally, the commission will continue its examination of Limited Access Privilege Programs. DMF will present mock fisheries management scenarios for striped bass, Southern flounder and king mackerel.

The commission business meeting begins at 9 a.m. Jan. 24 and 8:30 a.m. Jan. 25. A public comment session will be held at 7 p.m. Jan. 23 for anyone who wishes to address the commission about coastal fisheries issues.

For more information, contact Nancy Fish, the Division of Marine Fisheries’ liaison to the Marine Fisheries Commission, at (800) 682-2632 or (252) 726-7021.

The meeting agenda is attached.

MARINE FISHERIES COMMISSION BUSINESS MEETING
THE MARRIOTT, CAROLINA BEACH, N.C.
JANUARY 23-25, 2008

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).

January 23
7 p.m. Public Meeting
January 24
9 a.m. Call to Order*
   Executive Order One
Roll Call
                Approval of Agenda**
Approval of November Business Meeting Summary**
9:15 a.m. Public Comment
9:45 a.m. Request for Declaratory Ruling
10:15 a.m. Issues from Commission Members
10:30 a.m. Chairman’s Report
- MFC Advisor Appointments
- Action Update
- Fisheries Forum
10:45 a.m. Committee Reports
- Habitat and Water Quality – Dr. B.J. Copeland
- Northeast – Sara Winslow
- Southeast – Rich Carpenter
- Crustacean – Mikey Daniels
- CRFL – Nancy Fish
- Strategic Habitat Area Advisory Committee – Anne Deaton
- CHPP Report – Jimmy Johnson
Noon Lunch
1:30 p.m. Red Drum FMP – Lee Paramore
- Review Draft FMP
- Approve to take to Public Meetings**
3:30 p.m. Management Overview of Striped Mullet – David Taylor
4 p.m. Suspension of Rules – David Taylor
- Snapper Grouper**
- Striped Bass Permit (two rules)**
4:15 p.m. Mid-Atlantic Council Nominations – Red Munden
4:45 p.m. Rules - Notice of Text**
Oyster and Clam FMPs
- 15A NCAC 03I .0101 Definitions
- 15A NCAC 03K .0101 Prohibited Shellfish Areas/Activities
- 15A NCAC 03K .0103 Shellfish or Seed Management Areas
- 15A NCAC 03K .0105 Harvest of Crabs and Shellfish
- 15A NCAC 03K .0106 Taking/Unloading Oysters & Clams on Sun. or at Night
- 15A NCAC 03K .0108 Dredges/Mechanical Methods Prohibited
- 15A NCAC 03K .0109 Shellfish Harvester and Dealer Tags
- 15A NCAC 03K .0201 Open Season and Possession Limit
- 15A NCAC 03K .0208 Seed Management Areas
- 15A NCAC 03K .0209 Oyster Sanctuaries
- 15A NCAC 03L .0209 Recreational Harvest of Crabs
- 15A NCAC 03O .0201 Standards for Shellfish Bottom and Water Column Leases
- 15A NCAC 03O .0203 Shellfish Lease Application Processing
- 15A NCAC 03O .0210 Shellfish Franchises
- 15A NCAC 03R .0116 Designated Seed Oyster and Management Areas
- 15A NCAC 03R .0117 Oyster Sanctuaries
Interjurisdictional FMP
- 15A NCAC 03M .0201 Striped Bass – General
- 15A NCAC 03M .0204 Striped Bass–Season, Size & Harvest Limit: Atlantic Ocean
- 15A NCAC 03M .0301 Spanish and King Mackerel
- 15A NCAC 03M .0501 Red Drum
- 15A NCAC 03M .0504 Trout
- 15A NCAC 03M .0505 Shark
- 15A NCAC 03M .0506 Snapper-Grouper
- 15A NCAC 03M .0511 Bluefish
- 15A NCAC 03M .0512 Compliance with Fishery Management Plans
- 15A NCAC 03M .0513 River Herring and Shad
- 15A NCAC 03M .0514 Scup
- 15A NCAC 03I .0101 Definitions
- 15A NCAC 03M .0518 Tuna
- 15A NCAC 03J .0105 Purse Seines Prohibited
- 15A NCAC 03M .0102 Unmarketable Food or Scrap Fish
- 15A NCAC 03M .0401 Menhaden & Atlantic Thread Herring – Season and Areas
- 15A NCAC 03M .0402 Menhaden & Atlantic Thread Herring – Foodfish Prohibited
- 15A NCAC 03M .0403 Menhaden & Atlantic Thread Herring – Fishing on Weekends & Holidays Prohibited
- 15A NCAC 03M .0404 Menhaden & Atlantic Thread Herring – Fish Spill Reporting Mandatory
Kingfish FMP
- 15A NCAC 03J .0202 Net Rules, Specific Areas – Atlantic Ocean
- 15A NCAC 03M .0518 Kingfish
5:30 p.m. Recess
January 25
8:30 a.m. Limited Access Privilege Program Examination
- Scenarios for Striped Bass, Southern Flounder and King Mackerel – Scott Crosson
10:30 a.m. CRFL Annual Summary – Doug Mumford/Chris Wilson
11:30 a.m. Director’s Report
- Gill Net Operation Disturbance in Primary Nursery Areas
- Legislative Update
- Coastal Recreational Fishing License
- Waterfront Access Marine Industry Fund
- ASMFC
-River Herring PID
-Coastal Sharks FMP
- Highly Migratory Species
- Southern Flounder Season Extension – Don Hesselman
- Summer Flounder – Don Hesselman
- Striped Bass Seasons – Sara Winslow
- Marine Patrol Report – Col. Rex Lanier
- Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council – Red Munden
- South Atlantic Fishery Management Council – Brian Cheuvront
- South Atlantic Regional Partnership – Michelle Duval
12:45 p.m. Adjourn

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

2008 Meeting Schedule
-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

MOREHEAD CITY —State and local government entities, a non-profit fisheries conservation group and a Winterville restaurant have combined forces to boost oyster shell recycling in Pitt County.

Participants will celebrate their joint effort at a ceremony at 11 a.m. Thursday at Wimpie’s Steam Bar and Cajun Café, 206 Main St., Winterville.

The North Carolina Chapter of the Coastal Conservation Association, or CCA-NC, purchased a dump trailer for use in transporting oyster shells, primarily from Wimpie’s to a weigh station and recycling center at the Pitt County Landfill. The trailer will also be available to collect oyster shells from large oyster roasts in the Pitt County area.

Wimpie’s, which produces the highest volume of oyster shells in Pitt County, recently signed up to participate in the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries’ Oyster Shell Recycling Program.

The Oyster Shell Recycling Program will present plaques of appreciation to CCA-NC and to Pitt County Solid Waste and Recycling, both long-time oyster shell recycling supporters.

“The donation of this trailer indicates the true commitment of CCA-NC to improve and enhance our coastal resources,” said CCA-NC Executive Director Stephen Ammons. “Providing a means to increase the volume of shells being recycled back into our state’s waters can only improve our state’s water quality and other marine animal life.”

“This is a great example of how different agencies and interest groups can come together to help rebuild the state’s oyster population,” said DMF Oyster Shell Recycling Coordinator Sabrina Varnam.

The state uses the oyster shells collected through the recycling program to build oyster reefs, which serve a number of purposes in the coastal ecosystem.

Most notably, oyster reefs help produce more oysters. When oysters spawn, the larvae need a hard surface on which to attach and grow. The most productive surface on which they can attach is shell.

Oyster reefs also attract numerous other marine organisms, such as algae, worms and barnacles, which in turn attract fish. Oyster reefs are considered essential fish habitat.

Additionally, oysters are nature’s water filters, feeding on plankton and organic debris. One oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of water per day.

For more information, contact Varnam at (800) 682-2632 or sabrina.varnam@ncmail.net; Ammons at (919) 781-3474 or Stephen@ccanc.org; or Wimpies’ owner Scott Joyner at (252) 355-4220.

DEADLINE APPROACHES FOR CHARTER/HEADBOAT ADVISER APPLICATIONS

MOREHEAD CITY- The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission has revised its deadline for receipt of applications for a charter or head boat captain to serve as an adviser in developing priorities for project funding for the new Coastal Recreational Fishing License.

The deadline has been moved up to Jan. 23.

Individuals interested in serving as an adviser must hold a blanket Coastal Recreational Fishing License and should be willing to attend meetings at least twice a year. Advisers will be reimbursed for travel and other expenses incurred in relation to their official duties.

Adviser applications are available at Division of Marine Fisheries’ offices or by calling (252) 726-7021 or (800) 682-2632.

Applications also may be downloaded from the DMF Web site at http://www.ncfisheries.net/download/ADVISOR_AP.pdf.

Applications should be returned by Jan. 23, to the Division of Marine Fisheries, P.O. Box 769, Morehead City, NC 28557, Attention: Kelly Mullen.

For information about the CRFL advisory committee process, please contact Randy Gregory by e-mail at randy.gregory@ncmail.net, or (252) 726-7021.

MOREHEAD CITY- The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission is looking for individuals to serve as advisors in developing the Spotted Seatrout Fishery Management Plan (FMP).

The advisory committee will be composed of representatives from the commercial and recreational fishing communities and scientists. The committee will assist in developing long-term management goals for spotted seatrout, also known as speckled trout.

FMP’s include information on the nature and concerns of the fishery, habitat and water quality issues and status of the stock. 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 online at http://www.ncdmf.net/download/ADVISOR_AP.pdf , at Division of Marine Fisheries’ offices or by calling (252) 808-8022 or (800) 682-2632. Applications should be returned by Feb. 1, 2008, to the Division of Marine Fisheries, P.O. Box 769, Morehead City, NC 28557, Attention: Kelly Mullen.

For information about the spotted seatrout advisory committee process, please contact Beth Burns by e-mail at beth.burns@ncmail.net, or (252) 473-5734.

MOREHEAD CITY – The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries has added two additional public meetings so commercial fishermen can provide input into the management of the Pamlico Sound Gillnet Restricted Area. The two meetings brings to five the total number of public meetings the division has scheduled on this issue.

Blake Price, a biologist in the Division of Marine Fisheries, will review observations and fishermen reports of sea turtle interactions with the gillnet fishery during the 2007 fishing season. He will also discuss the potential effect those interactions may have on the 2008 season. Specifically, the industry needs to be aware of potential regulatory changes that may require gear modifications such as shorter and shallower nets, and eliminating tie downs.

Fishermen will be asked to discuss their concerns and ideas for the management of the Pamlico Sound Gillnet Restricted Area. The division will provide a summary of industry input to the National Marine Fisheries Service in February.

Tuesday, Jan. 22 at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 22 at 1 p.m.
Coastal Seafood Quality Seafood
200 Cedar Creek Road 2890 Cedar Island Rd
Sea Level Cedar Island

Previously announced meetings are still scheduled for:

Thursday, Jan. 10 at 10 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 10 at 3 p.m.
South Point Seafood The Fessenden Center
416 Irvin Garrish Highway 46830 N.C. Highway 12
Ocracoke Buxton

For more information, call Price at (800) 682-2632, ext. 8090, or e-mail him at blake.price@ncmail.net.

ASMFC Releases Draft Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Coastal Sharks for Public Comment

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's Spiny Dogfish and Coastal Shark Management Board has approved the Interstate Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Atlantic Coastal Sharks for public review and comment. Public hearings will be held between February 7 and March 14, 2008. The details of those hearings will be announced once they have been scheduled.

The Draft FMP addresses the management of 39 shark species. It proposes management measures for state recreational and commercial shark fisheries, including permitted species, regions, seasons, quotas, possession limits, size limits, protection of nursing and pupping grounds, authorized gear, dealer reporting, research, display, finning, and bycatch reduction.

Coordinated state management is a vital step towards establishing healthy self-sustaining populations of Atlantic coastal sharks. Many species have been in a depleted state and are vulnerable to collapse if fishing pressure continues as it has in recent years. Most of these sharks utilize state water coastal estuaries and bays as pupping grounds and nurseries. The Draft FMP proposes to protect depleted shark stocks while they are in these areas during the most vulnerable stages of their life cycles.

Another goal of Draft FMP is to establish complementary state and federal shark management. Currently some states mirror federal regulations for Atlantic sharks while other states have no management (other than spiny dogfish) or have regulations inconsistent with the federal FMP. Coordinating management between state and federal waters will close loopholes between jurisdictions and simplify regulations for law enforcement officials.

Fishermen and other interested groups are encouraged to provide input on the Draft FMP, either by attending public hearings or providing written comments. Copies of the Draft FMP can be obtained via the Commission’s website at www.asmfc.org under Breaking News or by contacting the Commission at (202) 289-6400. Public comment will be accepted until 5:00 PM on March 28, 2008, and should be forwarded to Chris Vonderweidt, Fisheries Management Plan Coordinator, 1444 Eye Street, NW, Sixth Floor, Washington, DC 20005; (202) 289-6051 (FAX) or at comments@asmfc.org (Subject line: Sharks). For more information, please contact Chris Vonderweidt at (202) 289-6400 or cvonderweidt@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

MOREHEAD CITY – Before casting a hook and line or jabbing a gig, fishermen should take a moment to pull their Coastal Recreational Fishing Licenses from their wallets or tackle boxes to check the expiration dates.

The annual recreational licenses expire one year from the date of purchase, so those who bought one in January 2007 may need to renew it before going fishing.

“Our commercial licenses and permits all expire on June 30 of each year, and we want to make sure people don’t get these dates confused,” said Marine Patrol Col. Rex Lanier.

This is particularly important since a yearlong grace period, in which Marine Patrol handed out warning tickets to first offenders, is over, Lanier said.

In 2007, Marine Patrol handed out more than 2,800 warning tickets but only 25 actual citations for fishing without a Coastal Recreational Fishing License.

Now, however, those caught fishing without a license will get a ticket that carries a fine and court costs of $155.

The state sold 470,400 Coastal Recreational Fishing Licenses in 2007, and 25,591 of those were purchased in the first four weeks of the year. Most of the licenses sold were annual resident licenses.

The license requirement pertains to anyone age 16 or older fishing in coastal waters of North Carolina, except those who held a Lifetime Sportsman or Lifetime Comprehensive Fishing license issued by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission prior to Jan. 1, 2006.

An annual license costs $15 for residents and $30 for non-residents. Ten-day licenses and a variety of lifetime licenses are available, as well. For more information on the types of licenses available, view the DMF Web site at www.ncdmf.net.

Licenses may be purchased or renewed at Wildlife Resources Commission licensing agents, which include most bait and tackle shops and all DMF license offices. They may also be purchased online at www.ncwildlife.org, or by calling 1-888-2HUNTFISH (1-888-248-6834).



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