RE:   FLOUNDER-COMMERCIAL HARVEST INTERNAL COASTAL WATERS

Preston P. Pate, Jr., Director, Division of Marine Fisheries, hereby announces that effective at 12:01 A.M., Thursday, December 1, 2005, the following restrictions shall apply to the commercial harvest of flounder in internal coastal waters:

Internal coastal waters of the state of North Carolina as defined in Marine Fisheries Rule 15A NCAC 3I .0101 (b) (10).

 It is unlawful to possess, land, sell or offer for sale flounder in a commercial fishing operation from December 1, 2005 through December 31, 2005, except dealers will have until 6:00 P.M. on December 9, 2005 to sell, offer for sale, transport or have in possession unfrozen flounder taken in this fishery prior to the closure.

 A.   This proclamation is issued under the authority of G.S. 113-170.4; 113-170.5; 113-181; 113-182; 113-221.1; 143B-289.52 and Marine Fisheries Rules 15A NCAC 3H .0103 and 3M .0503.  

1. It is unlawful to violate the provisions of any proclamation issued by the Fisheries Director under his delegated authority pursuant to Marine Fisheries Rule 15A NCAC 3H .0103.

C.   The possession and sale of live flounder in tanks or pools during the month of December, 2005 that were captured and recorded on N.C. trip tickets prior to December 1, 2005 is permitted.

1. This proclamation implements a provision of the 2005 Southern Flounder Fishery Management Plan that, based on variability in environmental and local stock conditions, seeks to maintain an adequate spawning stock of southern flounder.

November 7, 2005
10:00 A.M.  
FF-41-2005