FF-48-2003
PROCLAMATION
RE: STRIPED BASS SEASON –GILL NETS :
ATLANTIC OCEAN
Preston
P. Pate, Jr., Director, Division of Marine Fisheries, hereby announces that
effective at 12:01 A.M., Monday, January
5, 2004 the season for the harvest of striped bass with gill nets in the
Atlantic Ocean waters of North Carolina WILL
OPEN. The following
restrictions will apply:
I. SIZE LIMIT
No
person may possess, transport, buy, sell or offer for sale striped bass less
than 28 inches total length taken with ocean gill nets from the Atlantic Ocean.
II. HARVEST
RESTRICTIONS
A. No
individual may land or sell more than 10 striped bass per person per day except that an ocean gill net operation
consisting of more than one Standard Commercial Fishing License (SCFL) holder
may land or sell no more than two daily harvest limits (20 fish). A SCFL holder must accompany each single
harvest limit (10 fish) until the time of sale to a dealer who possesses a
valid 2003/2004 Striped Bass Dealer Permit validated for the Atlantic Ocean.
B.
Harvest
will be allowed on Monday and Tuesday, January 5 and 6, and on Monday and
Tuesday, January 12 and 13, 2004.
C. For
the purpose of this proclamation, a gill net is defined as a net deployed from and retrieved into a vessel
and set vertically in the water to capture fish by entanglement by the gills in
its mesh as a result of net design, construction, mesh size, webbing diameter
or method in which it is used.
III. LANDING
RESTRICTIONS
Striped
bass harvested in this fishery may be sold only to and purchased by a currently
licensed finfish dealer possessing a valid 2003/2004 Striped Bass Dealer Permit validated for the Atlantic Ocean.
IV. DEALER PERMITS
A. No
finfish dealer may possess, buy, sell or offer for sale striped bass taken from
the Atlantic Ocean without first obtaining a 2003/2004 STRIPED BASS DEALER
PERMIT validated for the Atlantic Ocean from
the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries.
Dealers must abide by all conditions of the STRIPED BASS DEALER PERMIT and the
general permit conditions found in 15A NCAC 3O .0500.
B. Only
a STRIPED BASS DEALER PERMIT validated for the Atlantic Ocean may be used for
transactions involving striped bass
taken from the area opened by this proclamation.
C. Striped
bass lawfully sold to a permitted dealer may be resold to a non-permitted
wholesale or retail market provided the initial permitted dealer records their
dealer identification number on each bill of lading or receipts involved in the
shipment of striped bass. Any
individual or corporation who holds a current finfish dealer license must
obtain a STRIPED BASS DEALER PERMIT validated for the Atlantic Ocean in order
to sell any striped bass personally harvested.
V. SALE TAGS
No finfish dealer may possess, buy, sell
or offer for sale striped bass taken from the Atlantic Ocean without having
affixed either a North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries-issued Atlantic
Ocean striped bass sale tag affixed through the mouth and gill cover. In the case of striped bass imported from
other states, a similar tag that is issued for striped bass in the state of
origin must be affixed.
The
Atlantic Ocean gill net season for striped bass WILL CLOSE by proclamation when the harvest from this fishery
reaches 218,000 pounds or at 8:00 P.M. on January 13, 2004,
whichever occurs first. If the quota is
exceeded prior to January 13, 2004, a proclamation closing harvest will be
issued.
A. This proclamation is issued under the
authority of G.S. 113-182; 113-221(e); 143B-289.52; 113-170.4; 113-170.5; and
N.C. Marine Fisheries Rules 15A NCAC 3H .0103, 3M .0201 and 3M.0204.
B. It is unlawful to violate the provisions of
any proclamation issued by the Director under his delegated authority per 15A
NCAC 3H .0103.
C. The intent of this proclamation is to allow
the commercial harvest of striped bass from the Atlantic Ocean by traditional
gears within the 478,000 pound quota established for the 2003/2004 season by
the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) Fishery Management Plan
for Striped Bass.
D. The
waters of the Atlantic Ocean, as applicable to this proclamation are defined as
waters seaward of the COLREGS Demarcation Lines as indicated on National Ocean
Service navigation charts for the areas to which this proclamation applies.
E. Permits
may be obtained from all North Carolina Marine Fisheries License Offices.
F. All
striped bass taken during season closures and all undersized striped bass shall
be immediately returned to the waters where taken, regardless of the condition
of the fish.
G. Hook-and-line
fishing equipment is not commercial fishing equipment in the striped bass
fishery and it is illegal to sell or purchase striped bass taken by
hook-and-line in accordance with N.C. Marine Fisheries Rule 15A NCAC 3M .0201
(b).
H. Holders of Recreational Commercial License or hook-and-line fishermen must follow the bag and restrictions of the recreational fishery for striped bass.
I. Dealers
whose businesses are located in Beaufort, Carteret, Craven and Pamlico counties
may obtain tags by contacting the Morehead City Marine Patrol Office at
1-800-682-2632 or (252) 726-7021.
Dealers whose businesses are located in Hyde, Dare, Tyrrell, Washington,
Bertie Chowan, Pasquotank, Camden, Hertford and other northern counties may
obtain tags by contacting the Columbia Marine Patrol Office at 1-800-405-7774
or (252) 796-1322. Allow 48 hours for delivery.
December 2, 2003
11:30 A.M.
FF-48-2003
/dlt