FF-46-2001

PROCLAMATION

 

RE:  KING MACKEREL

 

Preston P. Pate, Jr., Director, Division of Marine Fisheries, hereby announces that effective at 12:01 A.M., Thursday, August 23, 2001, the following restrictions will apply to king mackerel commercial fishing operations:

 

I.           SUSPENSION OF RULE

       

        The portion of  N.C. Fisheries Rules for Coastal Waters 15A NCAC 3M .0301 (c) (1)

which reads “It is unlawful to possess king mackerel less than 20 inches fork length.”

is suspended.

 

II.     NEW SIZE LIMIT - COMMERCIAL FISHING OPERATIONS

 

No person may take, possess, land, sell or offer for sale king mackerel less than 24 inches fork length in a commercial fishing operation.

 

III.    GENERAL INFORMATION

 

A)    This proclamation is issued under the authority of G.S. 113-182; 113-221(e); 143B-289.52; and N.C. Marine Fisheries Rules 15A NCAC 3H .0103, 3I .0102, and 3M .0301.

 

B)        It is unlawful to violate the provisions of any proclamation issued by the Fisheries Director under his delegated authority per 15A NCAC 3H .0103.

 

C)        The intent of this proclamation is to make the commercial king mackerel size limit consistent with the recreational king mackerel size limit and bring it into compliance with the Mackerel Fishery Management Plan by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council.  

 

D)        Proclamation FF-34-2001, dated March 30, 2001, is rescinded.

 

 

August 20, 2001

1:00 P.M.

FF-46-2001

/sab