M-10-2002
RE: COMMERCIAL GILL NETS - PAMLICO
SOUND - GILL NET RESTRICTED AREA (GNRA)
Preston P. Pate, Jr., Director, Division of Marine
Fisheries, hereby announces that effective 12:01
A.M., Sunday, September 1, 2002, the following management measures will be
implemented for commercial gill net
fisheries in Pamlico Sound in
the areas described below as the Gill
Net Restricted Areas (GNRAs).
I.
GNRA DESCRIPTIONS:
A. Shallow Water
Gill Net Restricted Areas (SGNRA)
1.SGNRA1
The area from Wainwright Island to Ocracoke Inlet bound by
the following points: Beginning at a point on Core Banks at 34° 58.7963’N- 76° 10.0013’W, running
northwesterly to Marker # 2CS at the mouth of Wainwright Channel at 35° 00.2780’N- 76° 12.1682’W, then
running northeasterly to Marker “HL” at 35° 01.5665’N- 76° 11.4277’W, then running northeasterly to Marker #1 at 35° 09.7058’N- 76° 04.7528’W, then
running southeasterly to a point at Beacon Island at 35° 05.9352’N- 76° 02.7408’W, then
running south to a point on the northeast corner of Portsmouth Island at 35° 03.7014’N- 76° 02.2595’W, then
running southwesterly along the shore of Core Banks to the point of beginning.
2.SGRNA2
The area from Ocracoke Inlet to Hatteras Inlet bound by the
following points: Beginning at Marker #7 at the mouth of Silver Lake at 35° 06.9091’N- 75° 59.3882’W, running
north to Marker # 14BF at Big Foot Slough Entrance at 35° 09.3627’N- 76° 00.6259’W, then
running northeasterly to a point at 35° 13.4489’N- 75° 47.5531’W, then running south to a point northwest of the
Ocracoke/Hatteras Ferry terminal on the Ocracoke side at 35° 11.5985’N- 75° 47.0768’W, then
southwesterly along the shore to a point of beginning.
3.SGNRA3
The area from Hatteras to Rodanthe bound by the following
points: Beginning at Marker “HR” at 35° 13.3152’N- 75° 41.6694’W, running northwest to Marker “42 RC” at Hatteras
Channel at 35°
16.7617’N- 75°
44.2341’W, then running easterly to a point off Marker #2 at Cape Channel at 35° 19.0380’N- 75° 36.2993’W, then
running to Marker #1 at the Avon Channel Entrance at 35° 22.8212’N- 75° 33.5984W, then
running northerly to a point on Gull Island at 35° 28.4495’N-75° 31.3247’W, then running north to Marker “ICC” at 35° 35.9891’N- 75° 31.2419’W, then
running northwesterly to a point at 35° 41.000’N – 75° 29.3271’W, then running
easterly to a point on shore at 35° 41.000’N – 75° 33.8397’W, then following
the shoreline in a southerly direction to the point of beginning.
B. Mainland
Gillnet Restricted Areas (MGNRA)
1.MGNRA1
The area on the mainland side of Pamlico Sound, from the shoreline out to 200 yards,
east of the 76°
30’ Longitude Line to the 76° 09.3004’ Longitude Line at Bluff Point.
2.MGNRA2
The area on the mainland side of Pamlico Sound, from the shoreline out to 200 yards,
west of the 75°
50’ Longitude Line to the 76° 09.3004’ Longitude Line at Bluff Point.
C. Ocracoke
Corridor (OC)
The area in Ocracoke Inlet bound by the following points:
Beginning at a point at 35° 07.9390’N- 76° 03.8080’W, then running northeasterly to Marker #9 at Nine
Foot Shoal Entrance at 35° 08.4411’N- 76° 02.6848’W, then running northeasterly to Marker “14 BF” at
35°
09.3627’N- 76°
00.6259’W, then running southeast to Marker #7 at the mouth of Silver Lake at
35°
06.9091’N- 75°
59.3882’W, then following the shoreline southwesterly to a point at the north
side of Ocracoke Inlet at 35° 04.4200’N- 75° 59.9245’W, then crossing the inlet to a point on Portsmouth
Island at 35°
03.6916’N- 76°
02.2540’W, then in a northerly direction to a point on Beacon Island at 35° 05.9352N- 76° 02.7408’W, then
running in a northwesterly direction to the point of beginning.
D. Hatteras
Corridor (HC)
The area in Hatteras Inlet bound by the following points:
Beginning at a point at 35° 13.4489’N- 75° 47.5531’W, running east to the site of an old platform at
35°
14.0100’N- 75°
45.8097’W, then running northeast to Marker “42 RC” at the mouth of Hatteras
Channel at 35°
16.7617’N- 75°
44.2341’W, then following the channel to Marker “HR” at 35° 13.3152’N- 75° 41.6694’W, then
following the shoreline to a point on the north side of Hatteras Inlet at 35° 11.3408’N- 75° 44.9907’W, then
crossing the inlet to the south side to a point on Ocracoke Island at 35° 11.0793’N- 75° 45.9645’W, then
following the shoreline northwest to a point northwest of the Ocracoke/Hatteras
ferry terminal at 35° 11.5985’N- 75° 47.0768’W, then running in a northerly direction to the
point of beginning.
E. Oregon Inlet
Corridor (OIC)
The area in Oregon Inlet bound by the following points:
Beginning at a point at Marker #12 at Old House Channel at 35° 45.0883’N- 75° 35.9600’W, then
following the channel in a northeasterly direction to Marker #53 at 35° 47.2157’N- 75° 34.4264’W, then
running easterly to Marker #13 near Oregon Inlet Fishing Center harbor
entrance, then running southerly to a point on the south side of Oregon Inlet
at 35° 46.0500’N- 75° 31.6166’W, then running in a southerly direction along the
shoreline to a point at 35° 41.0000’N- 75° 29.3271’W, then running west to a point at 35° 41.0000’N-
75°
33.8397’W, then in a northerly direction to the point of beginning.
II.
GEAR RESTRICTIONS:
The
following restrictions will apply to the commercial
gill net fisheries occurring in the areas of Pamlico Sound described above
on the dates indicated. Large mesh gill nets are defined in this
proclamation as those gill nets with stretched mesh of 5 inches and
greater. Small mesh gill nets are
defined as those gill nets with stretched mesh less than 5 inches.
A. SGNRA1,
SGNRA2, SGNRA3, MGNRA1, and MGNRA2
1.From September 1
through December 15, 2002, fishing operations will be limited to a maximum
of 2,000 yards of large mesh gill net and a maximum of 2,000 yards of small
mesh gill net. The use of large mesh commercial gill nets will require a GNRA Permit (as outlined
below).
2.From September 1
through October 31, 2002, attendance is required for fishing operations
using small mesh gill nets.
B. Inlet
Corridors (OC, HC, OIC)
1.From September 1
through December 15, 2002, the use of large mesh gill nets in any of the
corridors is prohibited. Commercial fishing operations using small
mesh gill nets will be limited to a maximum of 2,000 yards.
2.From September 1
through October 31, 2002, attendance is required for fishing operations
using small mesh gill nets.
C. Individual commercial fishing operations setting gill nets
in more than one of the GNRAs will be restricted to a total of 2,000 yards of
large mesh and a total of 2,000 yards of small mesh gillnet
in all areas.
III.
PERMITS AND PERMIT CONDITIONS
A. A Gill Net Restricted Area Permit (GNRA) is required for
participation in large mesh commercial
gill net fisheries in the GNRAs from September
1, 2002 through December 15, 2002. The procedures outlined in Marine
Fisheries Rules 15A NCAC 3O .0500 apply.
B. A single GNRA permit is required for each large mesh
commercial fishing operation, regardless of the number of persons
involved. A fishing operation is
defined as all individuals, the vessel actively deploying and fishing gill nets
in the GNRAs, and all nets used under one Permit and one Standard Commercial
Fishing License (SCFL). The operation
shall have the GNRA Permit in possession at all times while on the water. A vessel shall be listed on only one GNRA
Permit.
C. An individual must hold or be assigned a Standard Commercial
Fishing License (SCFL) or a Retired Standard Commercial Fishing License to
obtain a GNRA Permit. When a SCFL is assigned, the GNRA Permit will be issued
in the name of the assignee. The vessel
used in the commercial fishing operation must be identified on the GNRA Permit
application.
D. Gill Net Restricted Area permittees shall not refuse to
allow onboard fisheries observers to collect data from gill net fisheries in
the GNRA. Failure to allow an observer
onboard or allow Marine Patrol inspection shall result in revocation of the
GNRA Permit. Other violations of permit
conditions may result in the suspension or revocation of the Permit.
E. Weekly reports from GNRA permittees are required to be
submitted to NCDMF on forms provided by the Division in accordance with
conditions found in the GNRA Permit.
These reports are required whether or not permittees fish during that
week.
IV.
SEA TURTLE INTERACTION REPORTING:
Fishermen shall report all sea turtle interactions with gill
nets in the GNRAs to the NCDMF Communication Center in Morehead City, NC by
phone at 1-800-682-2632 or 252-726-7021 within 24 hours. Failure to report interactions may result in
suspension or revocation of the GNRA Permit.
V.
GENERAL INFORMATION:
A. This proclamation is issued under the authority of G. S.
113-134; 113-181; 113-182; 113-221(e); 143B-289.52 and N.C. Fisheries Rules 15A
NCAC 3H .0103, 3I .0107, 3I .0113, 3J .0103, 3O .0500, and 3O .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 intent of this proclamation is to implement management
measures in the fall gill net fisheries in southeastern Pamlico Sound that are
expected to reduce interactions with threatened and endangered sea turtles from
September 1 through December 15, 2002.
These actions are expected to provide increased levels of protection for
threatened and endangered sea turtles in Pamlico
Sound gill net fisheries.
D. “Attendance” is defined in N.C. Fisheries Rule 15A NCAC 3I
.0101 (b) (40).
E. Gill Net Restricted Area Permits will be available beginning
August 15, 2002 at no cost from all Division of Marine Fisheries License
Offices.
F. This proclamation supplements, but does not supersede, the small mesh gill net attendance requirement
for areas described in Marine Fisheries Rule 3J .0103 from May 1 through
October 31 each year.
August 14, 2002
10:30 AM
M-10-2002
/sab