FF-50-2002

PROCLAMATION

RE: BLACK SEA BASS

Preston P. Pate, Jr., Director, Division of Marine Fisheries, hereby announces that effective at 12:01 A.M., Wednesday, November 20, 2002, the following restrictions will apply to the black sea bass fishery in the Atlantic Ocean north of Cape Hatteras (35° 15’ N. Latitude):

No person or fishing operation may take, possess, land, sell or offer for sale black sea bass taken with commercial fishing equipment or for commercial purposes from the Atlantic Ocean north of Cape Hatteras. This closure remains in effect until January 1, 2003.

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 .0506.

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 National Marine Fisheries has projected that the commercial quota of 656,274 pounds for black sea bass for the Quarter IV Harvest Period will be harvested by November 13, 2002.

D. The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council-Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan requires that the black sea bass commercial season be closed in state waters when the quota is harvested.

E. This proclamation expires at midnight, December 31, 2002. Black Sea Bass commercial management measures for size limit, harvest limits, gear restrictions and fish traps/pots for 2003 will be specified in a proclamation issued before that date.

November 6, 2002

1: 00 P.M.

FF-50-2002

/dlt