SC-3-2003

PROCLAMATION

RE: 2003 BAY SCALLOP SEASON

Preston P. Pate, Jr., Director, Division of Marine Fisheries, hereby announces that effective at 7:30 A.M., Monday, August 18, 2003, the bay scallop season WILL OPEN in the area described below with the following restrictions:

I. AREA DESCRIPTION

The area in the vicinity of Harkers Island bound on the western side by a line beginning at Lenoxville Point at 34°42.5000’N – 76°36.9333’W and running southwesterly through Channel Marker “NR” to a point on Shackleford Banks at 34° 41.1000’N – 76° 38.2666’W. The area is bound on the eastern side by a line that runs from a point on Core Banks at the eastern end of the Colregs Demarcation Line across Bardens Inlet at 34° 37.3666’N – 76° 31.4833’W and runs northerly following the Cape Lookout Channel through Markers “19” and “ 26” to Marker “35”. The line continues to run northeasterly through Markers “2” and “6” to Marker “10” (See Map). At Marker “10”, the line runs northwesterly to a point at Marshallberg at 34° 43.1500’N – 76° 31.2000’W. The area within these boundaries will open to bay scallop harvest and the remainder of the state’s internal coastal waters will remain closed.

II. HARVEST TIMES AND METHODS

A. Scallops may be taken from 7:30 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. by hand, with hand rakes, hand tongs, dip nets and scoops.

B. Harvest will be allowed on Monday and Wednesday, August 18 and 20, Monday and Wednesday, August 25 and 27, and Monday and Wednesday, September 1 and 3, 2003. The recreational harvest limit can be taken on those days and on the weekends of August 23 and 24, and August 30 and 31, 2003.

C. Scallops SHALL NOT be taken with dredges, nor shall dredges be possessed aboard a vessel used to take scallops.

III. HARVEST LIMITS

A. For commercial purposes no person shall take, attempt to take, or have in possession more than ten (10) U.S. standard bushels per person per day. No combined fishing operation, regardless of the number of persons or boats which may be involved shall take, attempt to take, or have in possession more than twenty (20) U.S. standard bushels per day. No person shall transfer scallops from the catching vessel to any other vessel or transport scallops by any vessel other than the vessel from which they are harvested.

B. For recreational purposes, no person shall take or have in possession more than ½ bushel of scallops per person per day not to exceed one bushel if two or more persons are on a vessel.

IV. 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, 3K .0501.

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 recreational harvest limit cannot be combined with the commercial harvest limit.

D. The harvest of bay scallops from any properly posted Research Sanctuary is prohibited by Marine Fisheries Rule 15A NCAC 3I .0109.

E. This action is being taken to allow harvest of bay scallops in the vicinity of Harkers Island before they are decimated by cownose ray predation.

July 30, 2003 10:00 A.M.

SC-3-2003

/dlt