FF-61-2001

PROCLAMATION

RE: SCUP

Preston P. Pate, Jr., Director, Division of Marine Fisheries, hereby announces that effective at 12:01 A.M., Tuesday, November 20, 2001, the following restrictions will apply to the scup fishery in the Atlantic Ocean north of Cape Hatteras (35° 15’ N. Latitude):

No person or fishing operation may take, possess, land, sell or offer for sale scup taken with commercial fishing equipment or for commercial purposes from the Atlantic Ocean north of Cape Hatteras. This closure remains in effect until January 1, 2002.

GENERAL INFORMATION

A) This proclamation is issued under the authority of G.S. 113-182; 113-221(e); 113-170.4; 113-170.5; 143B-289.52; and N.C. Marine Fisheries Rules 15A NCAC 3H .0103 and 3M .0514.

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 Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) has determined that the commercial quota for scup for the Winter II Harvest Period has been harvested.

D. The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council-Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan requires that the scup commercial season be closed in state waters when the quota is harvested.

E) This proclamation expires at midnight, December 31, 2001. Scup commercial management measures for size limit, harvest limits, gear restrictions and fish traps/pots specified in Proclamation FF-16-2001 will apply effective January 1, 2002.

November 16, 2001

10:30 A.M.

FF-61-2001

/sab