PROCLAMATION
RE: 2003/2004 MECHANICAL HARVEST OF CLAMS
Preston P. Pate, Jr.,
Director, Division of Marine Fisheries, hereby announces that effective at 7:30 A.M., Monday, December 8, 2003,
the mechanical harvest of clams WILL
OPEN with the following restrictions:
I. AREA DESCRIPTIONS
Clams may be taken by mechanical methods in portions of Bogue Sound, New River, Newport River, North River and Core Sound as shown by the hatched areas on the attached maps.
Mechanical methods may be
used to take clams from 7:30 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. Mondays through Wednesdays
only. Mechanical clam harvest will not be allowed on Wednesday,
December 24, 2003.
III. HARVEST LIMITS
In accordance with N.C.
Marine Fisheries Rule 15A NCAC 3K .0302(a), a maximum daily harvest of 3,750
clams (15 bags at 250 clams per bag) in possession will be allowed per fishing
operation in North River, Newport River and Bogue Sound. A maximum daily harvest of 5,000 clams (20
bags at 250 clams per bag) in possession will be allowed per fishing operation
in Core Sound. A maximum daily harvest
limit of 6,250 clams (25 bags at 250 clams per bag) in possession will be
allowed per fishing operation in New River and daily harvest shall not exceed a
cumulative total of 6,250 clams (25 bags at 250 clams per bag) per fishing
operation in any coastal waters, regardless of the harvest methods employed.
IV. 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, 3I
.0101 (13) and 3K .0301, .0302, .0303 and .0304.
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. Pursuant to the authority of 15A NCAC 3K .0303(a), a valid permit for mechanical harvest of
clams will be required and all conditions which appear on the back of the
permit apply.
D. All areas within 25 feet
of privately marked and maintained navigation channels and piers, all marked
shellfish leases, all polluted shellfish
areas, all established beds of aquatic vegetation and natural or live
oyster beds shall remain closed to the
mechanical harvest of clams.
E. The Division of Marine Fisheries will place markers with green
signs along the boundaries of referenced areas which will be considered the
actual closure line. Unauthorized
removal or relocation of any marker or sign will not change the area opened,
nor shall any such unauthorized removal or relocation or the absence of any
marker or sign affect the applicability of any proclamation pertaining to any
such body of water or portion thereof.
Where there is conflict between markers or signs and maps, maps shall
prevail.
F.
When
markers or signs delineating the boundaries of the mechanical harvest areas are
removed, destroyed, or relocated to the degree that the lines are
unenforceable, or when aerial surveys reveal flagrant violations as evidenced
by bottom disturbance behind the lines, the Division will close the affected
water body for a period not less than one week. This time will be used for restoration of the markers or signs
and correcting the alignment of the harvest area.
G. Southeastern Pamlico Sound will not open to mechanical clam
harvest this year due to the rotation scheme implemented through the NC Hard
Clam Fishery Management Plan.
November 14, 2003
11:30 A.M.
SF-9-2003/2004
/sab