SH-2-2005

PROCLAMATION

RE: SHRIMPING AND CRAB TRAWLING

Preston P. Pate, Jr., Director, Division of Marine Fisheries, hereby announces that effective at 12:01 A.M., Sunday, May 1, 2005, all coastal waters south of Marker #45 near Bogue Inlet to the South Carolina line will close to shrimping and crab trawling, except the following areas, which will remain open until further notice:

AREA DESCRIPTIONS - SOUTHERN DISTRICT:

I. ATLANTIC OCEAN

II. Onslow County

A. Bogue Inlet Channel - (Map 1)

B. Intracoastal Waterway Channel (ICWW) ONLY - from Bogue Inlet to Marker #45 at Swansboro (Map 1)

C. Intracoastal Waterway - channel only from Marker #45 at Swansboro to Marker #63 south of Brown's Inlet.(Maps 1 & 2)

D. West Channel - (Island Channel) - main channel only from ICWW Buoy#47A to ICWW Marker #45B. (Map 1)

E. West Channel - main channel only from ICWW Marker #48 to Bogue Inlet. (Map 1)

F. Banks Channel - main channel only from Bogue Inlet to Bear Inlet. (Maps 1 & 2)

G. Saunders Creek - main channel only from ICWW Marker #55 to Bear Inlet. (Map 2)

H. Bear Creek - from the ICWW to Bear Inlet (Map 2)

I. Muddy Creek - main channel only, from Bear Creek to Saunders Creek. (Map 2)

J. Shacklefoot Channel - from ICWW Marker #59 to Bear Inlet including the area known locally as the "Horseshoe". (Map 2)

K. Uniflite Boat Basin - dredged portion only, from ICWW near Marker #55 to the upstream end of the dredged portion. (Map2)

L. Brown's Inlet area - main channels only, from ICWW Markers #61 and #63 to the Inlet. (Map 2)

M. Intracoastal Waterway - channel only from Marker #63 south of Brown's Inlet to Marker #49 at Morris Landing. [The area between Marker #17 north of Alligator Bay to the Surf City bridge closes on May 15 by Marine Fisheries Rule 15A NCAC 3N .0105(b)]. (Maps 2, 3 & 4)

N. New River - that area downstream from a line running from Gray Point 34° 37.6373' N – 77° 22.3605' W, running southeasterly to a point on the east shore 34° 37.1622' N – 77° 21.5527' W. Also, the area downstream from the Highway 172 Bridge bounded on the north by a line beginning near Pollocks Point 34° 34.9167' N – 77° 23.9500' W; running southeasterly to Jarretts Point 34° 34.6333' N – 77° 22.9167' W; running southeasterly to Wilkins Bluff 34° 34.2333' N – 77° 21.6500' W; running southwesterly to a point on the north side of the marked navigation channel 34° 33.9500' N – 77° 21.8833' W, across from Marker #17; running along the north side of the channel to the ICWW; and bounded on the south by a line beginning at the N.C. Highway 172 Bridge 34° 34.6333' N – 77° 23.9500' W; running easterly to Ferry Point 34° 34.0000' N – 77° 23.8167' W; running southeasterly to Poverty Point 34° 34.1167' N – 77° 23.1333'W; following the south shore of the river to Hatch Point 34° 33.1333' N – 77° 21.7833' W; and running southeasterly to ICWW Marker #2. All tributaries and that area west of a line beginning at a point near Stones Landing 34° 36.2043' N – 77° 26.3166' W; then following the danger area line for the Stone’s Bay Rifle Range to a point on the east shore, 34° 37.0579' N – 77° 26.1124' W, shall remain closed. The area upstream of the Highway 172 Bridge closes on May 15 by Marine Fisheries Rule 15A NCAC 3N .0105(b). (Map 3)

O. Intracoastal Waterway - from Marker #49 at Morris Landing to the Highway 210/50 Bridge at Surf City and 100 feet on either side of the ICWW. All bays, creeks and tributaries, including dredged canals will remain closed. (This area closes on May 15 by Marine Fisheries Rule 15A NCAC 3N .0105(b). (Map 4)

P. New River Inlet - from ICWW Marker #72A to New River Inlet. All tributaries will remain closed. (Map 3)

III. Pender County

A. Intracoastal Waterway Channel only - from Highway 210/50 Bridge at Surf City to ICWW Marker #114, (Futch Creek). (Maps 4 & 5)

B. Sloop Point Area - that area from the ICWW marked channel to 100 feet either side of the ICWW channel between the Highway 210/50 Bridge at Surf City and Marker #93. All bays, creeks, and tributaries including dredged canals will remain closed. (Map 4)

C. Topsail Sound - from ICWW Marker #86 to Topsail Inlet. (Map 4)

D. Marker #98 Channel - main channel only, from ICWW Flasher #98 to New Topsail Inlet. (Map 5)

E. Green Channel - main channel only, from ICWW Marker #105 to Rich Inlet. (Map 5)

F. Nixon Channel - main channel only, from the ICWW to Rich Inlet. (Map 5)

G. Butler Creek - (Utley's Channel) - main channel only, from the ICWW north of Marker #112 to Nixon Channel. (Map 5)

H. That area west of the ICWW Channel from Marker #93 near Sloop Point to Marker #105 at Green's Channel, from the ICWW channel to the marsh line bordering the ICWW. All bays, creeks, and tributaries, including dredged canals will remain closed. (Maps 4 & 5)

IV. New Hanover County

A. Intracoastal Waterway Channel only - from Marker #114 (Futch Creek) to Marker #163 at Snows Cut. (Maps 5 & 6)

B. Mason Channel - main channel only, from the ICWW opposite the mouth of Page's Creek to Mason Inlet. (Map 5)

C. Carolina Beach Boat Basin - from ICWW Marker #161 to the municipal docks (Map 6).

D. Stokley's Cut - (Old Moores Inlet Channel) - from the ICWW near Marker #125 to Old Moore Inlet, including the dredged basin. All tributaries to the channel and the basin will remain closed. (Map 5)

E. Lee's Cut (Spring Landing Channel) - from the Intracoastal Waterway to U.S. Highway 74 Bridge at Banks Channel, including the area known locally as "The Lagoon". All tributaries to the channel and lagoon will remain closed. (Map 5)

F. Banks Channel - from U.S. Highway #74 Bridge to Masonboro Inlet. (Map 5)

G. Mott Channel - from the ICWW near Marker #127 to Banks Channel, including the area known locally as the "The Borrow Pit" or "The Everett Hole" located adjacent to Mott Channel from Marker #22 to near Marker #26. (Map 5)

V. Brunswick County

A. Cape Fear River - all waters south of a line beginning at a point on the west shore 34° 04.6040’N –77° 56.4780’ W; running easterly to a point on the east shore 34° 04.7920’N – 77°55.4740’W. (Maps 6 & 7)

Those areas south of a line beginning at a point on the south side of the Spoil Island at the intersection of the ICWW and the Cape Fear River Ship Channel at 34° 01.5780' N – 77° 56.0010' W, running easterly to a point on the east shore of the Cape Fear River 34° 01.7230' N – 77° 55.0101' W including those areas south of the area opened and east of the ICWW known as "Dow Chemical Bay: and "Radar Dome Bay", will remain closed.

B. Elizabeth River - main channel only, including Lower Dutchman Creek from the ICWW to the Cape Fear River. All tributaries of Elizabeth River and Dutchman Creek, that portion of Elizabeth River west of the ICWW Marker #7, and that portion of Dutchman Creek north of the ICWW will remain closed. (Map 7)

C. Intracoastal Waterway Channel (ICWW) only - from Marker #1 (Southport) to the South Carolina State Line. (Maps 7, 8, 9 & 10)

D. Eastern Channel (Montgomery Slough) - main channel only, from Blue Water Point Marina to Lockwoods Folly Inlet including the channel from ICWW Marker #36 to Blue Water Point Marina. (Map 8)

E. Lockwoods Folly River Inlet Channel - from the ICWW to the Atlantic Ocean. (Map 8)

F. Shallotte River Inlet - from the ICWW Marker #75 to the Atlantic Ocean. (Map 9)

G. Jinks Creek – from the ICWW to Tubb’s Inlet. (MAP 10)

H. Bonaparte Creek - main channel only from the ICWW Marker #111 to Little River Inlet. (Map 10)

VI. GENERAL INFORMATION:

A. This proclamation is issued under the authority of G.S. 113-170.4; 113-170.5; 113-182;113-221.1(b); 143B-289.52 and N.C. Marine Fisheries Rules 15A NCAC 3H .0103; 3L .0101 and .0202.

B. It is unlawful to violate the provisions of any proclamation issued by the Fisheries Director under his delegated authority per N.C. Marine Fisheries Rule15A NCAC 3H .0103.

C. Shellfish Management Areas which have been designated by proclamation are closed to the use of trawl nets, longhaul seines, and swipe nets.

D. Hatched areas on the attached maps indicate those areas closed to shrimping and crab trawling.

E. All other rivers, bays, creeks, and tributaries of those areas opened to trawling will remain closed.

F. The Division of Marine Fisheries will mark the areas to be opened with signs insofar as may be practicable. No unauthorized removal or relocation of any such sign shall have the effect of changing the area opened, nor shall any such unauthorized removal or relocation or the absence of any sign affect the applicability of any proclamation pertaining to any such body of water or portion thereof. Where there is conflict between signs and maps, maps shall prevail.

April 27, 2004

5:00 P.M.

SH-2-2005

/sab