M-12-2002
RE: COMMERCIAL GILL NETS - PAMLICO SOUND - GILL NET RESTRICTED AREA
(GNRA)
Preston P. Pate, Jr., Director, Division of Marine
Fisheries, hereby announces that effective 5:00
P.M., Sunday, October 20, 2002, the following management measures for
commercial gill net fisheries in Pamlico Sound will apply:
I. Southern
Portion of Shallow Water Gill Net Restricted Area 3 (SGNRA3) Restrictions
A. Southern
Portion of SGNRA 3
The area from Hatteras to Avon Channel 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 northeasterly to Marker #1 at the
Avon Channel Entrance at 35° 22.8212’N – 75° 33.5984’W, then running
southeasterly to Marker #6 on Avon Channel at 35° 20.8224’N- 75° 31.5708’W,
then running easterly to Marker #8 at 35° 20.9412’N – 75° 30.9058’W, then
running to a point on shore at 35° 20.9562’N-75° 30.8472’W, then following the shoreline in a southerly
and westerly direction to the point of beginning. (See attached map)
B. Gear Restrictions
The following restrictions will apply to the commercial gill net fisheries occurring
in the area of Pamlico Sound described.
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.
1.
From October 20 through December 15, 2002, the
use of large mesh gill nets is prohibited. Commercial fishing operations using small
mesh gill nets will require a GNRA Permit and will be limited to a maximum of
2,000 yards.
2.
From October 20 through October 31, 2002, attendance is required for fishing operations using small mesh gill
nets.
II.
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 eliminate the use of
large mesh gill nets in the Southern Portion of SGNRA3 to minimize sea turtle
interactions.
D.
“Attendance” is
defined in N.C. Fisheries Rule 15A NCAC 3I .0101 (b) (40).
E. This proclamation supplements, but does not supersede, the small mesh gill net attendance requirement for areas described in Marine Fisheries Temporary Rule 3J .0103 (approved May 1, 2001) from May 1 through October 31 each year. It does supersede the harvest restrictions related to the above area in Proclamation M-10-2002 (REVISED), dated August 22, 2002.
October 18, 2002
3:00 P.M.
M-12 -2002
/sab