FF-40-2002

 

 

PROCLAMATION

 

RE:  COMMERCIAL SHARK HARVEST - ALL STATE WATERS

 

Preston P. Pate, Director, Division of Marine Fisheries, hereby announces that effective at 12:01 A.M., Thursday, September 19, 2002, the commercial harvest and retention of sharks taken in state waters is restricted as follows: 

 

I.      COMMERCIAL HARVEST RESTRICTIONS:

 

      Season:

A.   The July 1 through December 31 season for the retention of sharks within the Large Coastal category is CLOSED.

 

B.      No person engaged in commercial fishing operations may possess, transport, buy, sell, or offer for sale sharks within the Large Coastal category.

 

C.      All sharks not retained must be returned to the water with fins and tail intact and in a manner to ensure the highest likelihood of survival.

 

II.            GENERAL INFORMATION

 

A.      This proclamation is issued under the authority of G.S. 113-182; 113-170.4; 113-170.5; 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.      The federal seasons for sharks are based on quotas.  The Small Coastal and Pelagic categories will remain open until closed by proclamation due to quotas being reached.  Quota information can be obtained by contacting the NMFS Highly Migratory Species Section at (301) 713-2347.

 

D.      The Large Coastal Sharks category includes the following species:

 

Bignose (Carcharhinus altimus), Blacktip (Carcharhinus limbatus), Bull (Carcharhinus leucus), Caribbean reef Carcharhinus perezii), Dusky (Carcharhinus obscurus), Galapagos (Carcharhinus galapagensis), Great Hammerhead (Sphyrna mokarran), Lemon (Negaprion brevirostris), Nurse (Ginglymostoma cirratum), Sandbar (Carcharhinus plumbeus), Silky (Carcharhinus falciformis), Tiger (Galeocerdo cuvieri), Scalloped hammerhead (Sphyrna lewini), Smooth hammerhead (Sphyrna zygaena) and Spinner (Carcharhinus brevipinna), Night (Carcharhinus signatus), Narrowtooth (Carcarhinus brachyurus), Sand tiger (Odontaspis taurus), Bigeye sand tiger (Odontaspis noronhai), Whale (Rhincodon typus), Basking (Cetorhinus maximus), and White (Carcharodon carcharias).

 

      E.      This proclamation closes the harvest of the Large Coastal category due to the quota having been met.

                                                                     

 

September 16, 2002                                                                                                       

4:00 P.M.

FF-40-2002

/sab