M-12-2010

 

PROCLAMATION

RE: LARGE MESH GILL NETS: INTERNAL COASTAL WATERS

Dr. Louis B. Daniel III, Director, Division of Marine Fisheries, hereby announces that effective at 6:00 P.M., Sunday, August 1, 2010, the following provisions shall apply to the use of large mesh gill nets:

I. SUSPENSION OF PORTION OF MARINE FISHERIES RULE 15A NCAC 03J .0103

The following portion of Marine Fisheries Rules for Coastal Waters 15A NCAC 03J .0103 is suspended:

Section (i) (1), which reads:

(i) For gill nets with a mesh length five inches or greater, it is unlawful:
(1) To use more than 3,000 yards of gill net per vessel in internal waters regardless of the
number of individuals involved.

II. AREAS AND EXEMPTIONS

A. This proclamation applies to all internal coastal waters except for Albemarle and Currituck sounds and their tributaries described as follows:

  1. In Albemarle Sound, the restrictions do not apply north and west of a line beginning at a point 35º 57.5590’N - 75º 56.8200’ W; running northeasterly to a point 36º 04.8280’N - 75º 47.4050’W.
  2. In Currituck Sound, the restrictions do not apply north of the Highway 158 Wright Memorial Bridge beginning at a point on the western shore at 36º 04.8280’N - 75º 47.4050’W; running easterly along the south side of the bridge to a point on the east shore at 36º 05.5770’N - 75º 44.5850’W.

B. Run-around or strike nets and drop nets that are used to surround a school of fish and then are immediately retrieved are exempted from the restrictions in this proclamation.

C. The Pamlico Sound Gill Net Restricted Area (PSGNRA) will operate under Incidental Take Permit (ITP) No. 1528 and is exempt from the restrictions in this proclamation during the September through December 2010 period. Restrictions in this proclamation apply to the PSGNRA outside of that time period.

III. GILL NET RESTRICTIONS

It is unlawful to use large mesh gill nets (defined as 4 inches to 6½ inches stretched mesh, inclusive) unless they comply with the following provisions:

A. It is unlawful to set and retrieve large mesh gill nets except during the following times:

  1. No sooner than one hour before sunset on Monday and no later than one hour after sunrise on
    Tuesday.
  2. No sooner than one hour before sunset on Tuesday and no later than one hour after sunrise on
    Wednesday.
  3. No sooner than one hour before sunset on Wednesday and no later than one hour after sunrise on
    Thursday.
  4. No sooner than one hour before sunset on Thursday and no later than one hour after sunrise on
    Friday.

B. It is unlawful to use large mesh gill nets of more than 15 meshes in height and without a lead core or leaded bottomline. It is unlawful to use cork, floats, or other buoys except those required for identification except that south of the Highway 58 bridge, beginning at a point on the north shore at 34° 40.7848’N - 77° 04.0273’W; running southerly to a point on the south shore at 34° 39.8620’N – 77° 03.7438’W, floats are allowed.

C. It is unlawful to use or possess more than 2,000 yards of large mesh gill net per vessel north of the Highway 58 bridge (coordinates above) and it is unlawful to use or possess more than 1,000 yards of large mesh gill net per vessel south of the Highway 58 bridge.

D. It is unlawful to set more than 100 yards of large mesh gill net without leaving a space of at least 25 yards between separate lengths of net.

IV. GENERAL INFORMATION

A. This proclamation is issued under the authority of N.C.G. S. 113-134; 113-170.4; 113-170.5; 113-182; 113-221.1; 143B-289.52 and N.C. Fisheries Rules 15A NCAC 03H .0103 and 03J .0101 and .0103.

B. It is unlawful to violate the provisions of any proclamation issued by the Fisheries Director under his delegated authority pursuant to N.C. Fisheries Rule 15A NCAC 03H .0103.

C. The intent of this proclamation is to implement gill net restrictions while the Division applies for a statewide incidental take permit from NMFS under Section 10 of the Endangered Species Act.

D. The restrictions in this proclamation apply to gill nets used by Recreational Commercial Gear License holders as well as Standard and Retired Commercial Fishing Licenses holders.

E. The small mesh gill net attendance requirements in N.C. Marine Fisheries Rule 15A NCAC 03J .0103 (h), size restrictions in 03J .0103(a)(2), the navigational passage requirements in 03J .0101, as well as all other existing gill net rules and proclamations remain in effect.

F. This proclamation supersedes Proclamation M-8-2010(REVISED), dated June 11, 2010.

July 30, 2010
3:15 P.M.
M-12-2010