FF-34-2002

PROCLAMATION

RE: SPINY DOGFISH SHARK

Preston P. Pate, Jr., Director, Division of Marine Fisheries, hereby announces that effective at 12:01 A.M., Monday, July 1, 2002, the following restrictions will apply to the commercial spiny dogfish shark (Squalus acanthias) fishery:

No person or fishing operation may take, possess, land, sell or offer for sale spiny dogfish sharks taken with commercial fishing equipment or for commercial purposes from all internal coastal waters and the Atlantic Ocean.

GENERAL INFORMATION

A) This proclamation is issued under the authority of G.S. 113-170.4; 113-170.5; 113-182; 113-221(e); 143B-289.52; and N.C. Marine Fisheries Rules 15A NCAC 3H .0103 and 3M .0505.

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) This action is being taken because the spiny dogfish commercial quota for harvest period I for 2002 established by the National Marine Fisheries Services (NMFS) for federal waters has been harvested. The intent of this proclamation is to bring North Carolina into compliance with the requirements of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission Spiny Dogfish Emergency Action which requires that state waters be closed to the harvest of spiny dogfish when federal waters close. Federal waters will close at 12:01 A.M., Monday, July 1, 2002.

D) This proclamation temporarily supersedes the portions of FF-30-2002, dated May 16, 2002, which exempts spiny dogfish from harvest, size and season restrictions.

E) This proclamation expires at midnight, October 31, 2002.

June 28, 2002

10:00 A.M.

FF-34-2002

/sab