M-32-2010

PROCLAMATION

RE: GILL NETS - BOGUE BANKS

Dr. Louis B. Daniel III, Director, Division of Marine Fisheries, hereby announces that effective at 6:01 P.M., Friday, December 3, 2010, the following restrictions shall apply to the gill net and stop net fisheries off Bogue Banks:

I. AREA

Gill net requirements in this proclamation apply only in the Atlantic Ocean off Bogue Banks within 250 yards of the ocean beach from the western boundary of Fort Macon State Park, west to Bogue Inlet.

II. SEASON

Gill net restrictions shall apply from 6:01 P.M., Friday, December 3, 2010 through Sunday, 6:00 p.m., December 5, 2010 and shall end at that time by this proclamation.

III. NET RESTRICTIONS

A. It is unlawful for a gill net to be set within a zone measuring 660 yards east of a deployed stop net as measured from where the stop net connects to shore and 250 yards south of the mean high water mark as measured along the adjacent 660 yard dimension.

B. It is unlawful for stop net crews to fail to mark the 660 yard zone with two stakes on shore set so as to indicate a range line (one near the high water mark and one in line with it further onshore).

C. It is unlawful for stop net crews to fail to mark the prohibited gill net zone with three (3) orange floatation buoys. One buoy is required at the end of the stop net, one is required 250 yards offshore at a distance of 660 yards from where the stop net reaches shore (directly offshore of the range stakes). The last orange buoy is to be placed 250 yards offshore midway between the two previously described buoys. The buoys and stakes are required to have reflective tape attached to them.

D. It is unlawful to use or set gill nets within 250 yards of an ocean fishing pier.

E. The unauthorized removal or absence of marking buoys shall not serve to open the 660 by 250 yard zone east of the deployed stop net.

IV. GENERAL INFORMATION

A. This proclamation is issued under the authority of N.C.G.S. 113.170.4; 113-170.5; 113-182; 113-221.1; 143B-289.52 and Marine Fisheries Rules 15A NCAC 03H .0103, and 03J .0103.

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

C. The intent of this proclamation is to implement an agreement reached between stop net and gill net representatives to address user conflicts in the described area during the peak fall fishing season. This extends the period of the agreement three days due to an extension of mullet season.

December 1, 2010
3:10 P.M.
M-32-2010