M-9-2005PROCLAMATION RE: GILL NETS - ALBEMARLE SOUND MANAGEMENT AREAPreston P. Pate, Jr., Director, Division of Marine Fisheries, hereby announces that effective at 12:01 A.M., Thursday, September 1, 2005, the following provisions shall apply to the use of gill nets in the ALBEMARLE SOUND MANAGEMENT AREA: I. AREA DESCRIPTION: The Albemarle Sound Management Area includes: Albemarle Sound Management Area as described in Marine Fisheries Rule 15A NCAC 03R.0201 (a). II. NET RESTRICTIONS: A fishing operation, regardless of the number of vessels or persons involved, shall adhere to the gill net restrictions specified for the following areas: A. Albemarle Sound and Currituck Sound 1. Gill nets with a mesh length of 3 inches through 4 inches shall not exceed 800 yards, and must be attended at all times. 2. All gill nets with a mesh length of 5 1/2 inches and larger are required to be equipped with tie downs spaced no farther apart than 30 feet restricting the vertical distance between the top and bottom lines to 48 inches or less unless they are equipped with floats that do not exceed 2 inches in diameter and 6 inches in length placed a minimum of 10 yards apart, not to exceed 11 floats per 100 yards of net. Nets must be set so as to fish on the bottom not to exceed a vertical height of 48 inches. 3. Gill nets with a mesh length of 5 1/2 inches and larger shall not exceed 3,000 yards combined for a fishing operation. 4. Gill nets with a mesh length less than 3 inches may not be used. 5. Gill nets with a mesh length greater than 4 inches and less than 5 1/2 may not be used.
2. All gill nets with a mesh length of 5 1/2 inches and larger are required to be equipped with tiedowns spaced no farther apart than 30 feet restricting the vertical distance between the top and bottom lines to 48 inches or less unless they are equipped with floats that do not exceed 2 inches in diameter and 6 inches in length placed a minimum of 10 yards apart, not to exceed 11 floats per 100 yards of net. Nets must be set so as to fish on the bottom not to exceed a vertical height of 48 inches. 3. Gill nets with a mesh length of 5 1/2 inches and larger shall not exceed 3,000 yards combined for a fishing operation. 4. Gill nets with a mesh length less than 3 inches may not be used. 5. Gill nets with a mesh length greater than 4 inches and less than 5 1/2 may not be used. III. GENERAL INFORMATION: A. This proclamation is issued under the authority of G.S. 113-170.4; 113-170.5; 113-182; 113-221.1; 143B-289.52 and N.C. Marine Fisheries Rule 15A NCAC 3H .0103 and 3J .0103, 3Q .0107(c) and 3M .0202. B. It is unlawful to violate provisions of any proclamation issued by the Fisheries Director under his delegated authority per N.C. Marine Fisheries Rule 15A NCAC 3H.0103. C. "Attended" is defined in Marine Fisheries Rule 15A NCAC 3I .0101. D. In accordance with 15A NCAC 3J .0103 (i), effective September 1, 2005, it is unlawful to use more than 3,000 yards of gill net with a mesh length 5 ½ inches or greater per vessel in internal waters regardless of the number of individuals involved.
F. The intent of this proclamation is to allow directed fisheries for mullet, white perch, bluefish and flounder while managing Albemarle Sound Management Area striped bass and red drum stocks within the quota established by the North Carolina Estuarine Striped Bass Fishery Management Plan and the North Carolina Red Drum Fishery Management Plan. G. This proclamation supersedes Proclamation M-6-2005 dated May 5, 2005. August 26, 2005 9:30 A.M. M-9-2005 /sab |