PROCLAMATION
Preston P. Pate, Jr., Director, Division of Marine
Fisheries, hereby announces that effective at 12:01 A.M., Tuesday, October 1, 2002, the following restrictions
will apply to the taking of flounder from the
INTERNAL WATERS of the state:
I. A. SUSPENSION
OF RULE
The portion of N.C. Fisheries Rules for Coastal Waters 15A
NCAC 3M .0503 (a) (1), which reads, “It is unlawful to possess flounder less
than 13 inches total length taken from internal waters” is suspended.
1. No person may possess flounder less than 14 inches total length taken from
internal waters for recreational purposes.
2. No person may possess flounder less than 13 inches total length taken from internal waters as part of a commercial fishing operation.
II. 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; 3I .0102, 3M .0503 and 3M .0512.
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 maintain North
Carolina’s compliance with the requirements of the joint Mid-Atlantic Fisheries
Management Council – Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission Summer
Flounder Fisheries Management Plan under the authority of N.C. Fisheries Rule
15A NCAC 3M .0512. This proclamation changes the
minimum size limit of flounder taken for recreational purposes in internal
waters from 13 inches to 14 inches total length. The size limit for commercial operations remains at 13 inches
total length.
September 13, 2002
12:00 P.M.
FF-39-2002
/sab