PROCLAMATION
Preston
P. Pate, Jr., Director, Division of Marine Fisheries, hereby announces that
effective at 1:00 P.M., Friday, December 13, 2002, the following
restrictions will apply to the taking of flounder for recreational purposes
from the Atlantic Ocean:
I. A. SUSPENSION
OF RULE
The
portion of N.C. Fisheries Rules for Coastal Waters 15A NCAC 3M .0503 (a) (3),
which reads, “It is unlawful to possess flounder less than 15 inches total
length from the Atlantic Ocean for recreational purposes” remains suspended.
No person may possess flounder less than 15˝ inches total length taken from the Atlantic Ocean for
recreational purposes.
It is unlawful to possess more that
eight flounder per person per day taken in the Atlantic Ocean for recreational
purposes in accordance with 3M .0503 (f).
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. The effect of this proclamation is to
continue the Atlantic Ocean recreational flounder season as it is presently
being prosecuted.
D. This proclamation supersedes Proclamation FF-43-2002, dated October 7,
2002.
December 11, 2002
1:00 P.M.
FF--2002
/sab