Preston
P. Pate, Jr., Director, Division of Marine Fisheries, hereby announces that
effective at 7:00 A.M., Monday, April
11, 2005, the following area will be exempt from the escape ring
requirement in crab pots until 12:01 A.M., June 15, 2005.
I.
AREA DESCRIPTION:
Newport River bounded by the Highway 70 Bridge in the south and the
Highway 101 Bridge at Core Creek in the north. (No Map)
II.
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 Rule 15A NCAC 3H .0103 and 3J .0301.
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. This action is being taken to allow the harvest of mature
female crabs. The variable condition is
that the female crabs do not enter peeler pots baited with males until the
water temperature increases.
D. During this period of exemption, escape rings in crab pots
may be obstructed to retain the crabs in the area described above.
E. Fisheries Rule 15A NCAC 3J .0301 (g) authorizes the
Fisheries Director exempt crab pots from the escape ring requirement.
April 8, 2005
1:00 P.M.
PT-2-2005
/sab