PT-3-2002

PROCLAMATION

RE: CRAB, EEL, FISH AND SHRIMP POTS

Preston P. Pate, Jr., Director, Division of Marine Fisheries, hereby announces that effective at 12:01 A.M., Wednesday, May 1, 2002 until midnight, October 31, 2002, the following will apply to crab, eel, fish and shrimp pots:

POTS MAY BE SET IN THE AREAS DESCRIBED BELOW:

I. ATLANTIC OCEAN - statewide

II. Designated nursery areas in all coastal fishing waters west and south of the Highway 58 Bridge at Emerald Isle which are listed in Rule 15A NCAC 3R .0103.

III. All coastal fishing waters west and south of the Highway 58 Bridge at Emerald Isle which are closed by NC Fisheries Rule or Division of Marine Fisheries proclamation to shrimping and/or crab trawling.

IV. All Shellfish Management Areas which have been designated by proclamation.

V. CARTERET COUNTY/ONSLOW COUNTY

A. That area between the Highway 58 Bridge and the Bogue Inlet Channel. (Map 1)

B. That area in White Oak River upstream from the Highway 24 Bridge at Swansboro. (Map 1)

VI. ONSLOW COUNTY

A. West Channel - Island Channel - from Intracoastal Waterway Buoy #47A to Intracoastal Waterway Marker #45C. (Map 1)

B. West Channel - from ICWW Marker #48 to Bogue Inlet. (Map 1)

C. Queens Creek - (Map 2)

D. Banks Channel - (behind Hammock Beach State Park) from Bogue Inlet to Bear Inlet. (Map 2)

E. Fosters Bay - (Map 2)

F. Saunders Creek - from Intracoastal Waterway Marker #55 to Bear Inlet. (Map 2)

G. Bear Creek - (Map 2)

H. Muddy Creek - from Bear Creek to Saunders Creek. (Map 2)

I. New River - upstream of the Highway 172 Bridge. (Map 3)

J. New River - Hall's Point Bay as shown on attached map. (Map 3)

VII. PENDER COUNTY

A. That area 100 feet on either side of the Intracoastal Waterway Channel from the Surf City Bridge to ICWW Marker #49 at Morris Landing. (Map 4)

B. Topsail Sound - from Intracoastal Waterway Marker #86 to Topsail Inlet. (Map 4)

C. Marker #98 Channel - from Intracoastal Waterway Flasher #98 to New Topsail Inlet. (Map 4)

D. Green Channel - from Intracoastal Waterway Marker #105 to Rich's Inlet. (Map 5)

E. Nixon Channel - from the Intracoastal Waterway to Rich's Inlet. (Map 5)

F. Butler Creek (Utley's Channel) - from the Intracoastal Waterway north of Marker #112 to Nixon Channel. (Map 5)

G. That area west of the Intracoastal Waterway Channel from Marker #93 near Sloop Point to Marker #105 at Green's Channel, from the ICWW Channel to the marsh line bordering the ICWW. (Map 4)

VIII. NEW HANOVER COUNTY

A. Mason Channel - from the Intracoastal Waterway opposite the mouth of Page's Creek to Mason Inlet. (Map 5)

B. Banks Channel - from the Highway #74 Bridge to Masonboro Inlet. (Map 5)

C. Stokley=s Cut (Old Moore Inlet Channel) - from the Intracoastal Waterway near Marker #125 to Old Moore Inlet, including the dredged basin. (Map 5)

D. Lee Cut (Spring Landing Channel - from the Intracoastal Waterway to Highway 74 Bridge at Banks Channel, including the area known locally as AThe Lagoon.@ (Map 5)

E. Motts Channel - from the Intracoastal Waterway near Marker #127 to Banks channel, including the area known locally as AThe Borrow Pit@ or AThe Everett Hole,@ located adjacent to Motts Channel from Marker #22 to near Marker #26. (Map 5)

F. Cape Fear River - all waters south of a line beginning at a point on the west shore 34° 04’ 40”N –77° 56’ 30” W; running easterly to a point on the east shore 34° 04’ 40”N – 77° 55’ 29”W. (Map 6)

G. Carolina Beach Boat Basin - from ICWW Marker #161 to the municipal clocks. (Map 6)

IX. BRUNSWICK COUNTY

A. Second or Middle Bay - (Map 6)

B. Buzzard's Bay - (Map 6)

C. Bay Creek, Cape Creek, and Bald Head Creek - (Map 6)

D. Elizabeth River - including Lower Dutchman Creek from the Intracoastal Waterway to the Cape Fear River. (Map 6)

E. Eastern Channel - Montgomery Slough - from the Intracoastal Waterway Marker #36 to Lockwoods Folly Inlet. (Map 7)

F. Shallotte River Inlet - from the Intracoastal Waterway Marker #75 to the Atlantic Ocean. (Map 7)

G. Jinks Creek - from the Intracoastal Waterway to Tubbs Inlet. (Map 8)

H. Bonaparte Creek - from the Intracoastal Waterway Marker #111 to Little River Inlet. (Map 8)

X. GENERAL INFORMATION

A. This proclamation is issued under the authority of G.S. 113-182; 113-221(e); 143B-289.52 and N.C. Marine Fisheries Rules 15A NCAC 3H .0103 and 3J .0301.

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 designate areas in the southern portion of the state in which pots may be set during a specified period of time.

D. In accordance with N.C. Marine Fisheries Rule 15A NCAC 3J .0301(b), it is unlawful to use pots in any navigation channel maintained and marked by State and Federal agencies.

E. Hatched areas on the attached maps indicate areas open to potting by Items V through IX of this proclamation.

F. This proclamation will expire at midnight, October 31, 2002, unless superseded by another proclamation.

April 18,2002

11:00 A.M.

PT-3-2002

/sab