FF-52-2006

PROCLAMATION

RE: BLACK SEA BASS – COMMERCIAL FISHING OPERATIONS – ATLANTIC OCEAN

Preston P. Pate, Jr., Director, Division of Marine Fisheries, hereby announces that effective at 12:01A.M., Sunday , November 12, 2006, the following restrictions shall apply to the commercial black sea bass fishery north of Cape Hatteras (35° 15.3’N. Latitude):

SIZE LIMIT
It is unlawful to possess black sea bass less than 11 inches total length north of Cape Hatteras. Total length shall be measured along the lateral midline from the tip of the nose to the tip tail, excluding the caudal fin filament.

HARVEST LIMITS
During the period beginning at 12:01 A.M., Wednesday, November 1, 2006 and ending at 6:00 P.M., Thursday, November 23, 2006, no commercial trawl, fish pot or hook and line fishing operation, regardless of the number of people involved, may have total landings of more than 3,000 pounds of black sea bass taken from the Atlantic Ocean north of Cape Hatteras.
The Atlantic Ocean black sea bass fishery will close immediately after the Director issues a public notice that the quota of black sea bass has been landed from the Atlantic Ocean north of Cape Hatteras, or at 6:00 P.M., November 23, 2006, whichever occurs first.

B. During any closed season, vessels may land up to 100 pounds of black sea bass per trip taken from the Atlantic Ocean

III. GEAR RESTRICTIONS

A. FISH TRAPS/POTS:

Black sea bass pots or traps must conform with the Federal rule requirements for escape vents specified in 50 CFR 648.144 (b)(2) and for degradable fasteners specified in 50 CFR 648.144 (b)(3)(i), (ii) and (iii). (See Section IV.H).

IV. PERMITS
A. Finfish dealers may not buy more than 100 pounds of black sea bass caught north of Cape Hatteras per day per commercial fishing operation unless the dealer has a valid 2007 Black Sea Bass – North of Cape Hatteras Dealer Permit from the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries. Permits will be issued only to those licensed fish dealers holding a valid license as authorized in G.S. 113-169.3. Dealers must abide by all conditions of the 2007 Black Sea Bass-North of Cape Hatteras Dealer Permit as set out in Proclamation FF-43-2003, dated November 10, 2003.

B. Dealers possessing a 2007 Black Sea Bass – North of Cape Hatteras Dealer Permit shall report daily by noon through FAX transmittal (252-726-3903) to the Division of Marine Fisheries black sea bass landings from the Atlantic Ocean for the previous day.

V. GENERAL INFORMATION
A. This proclamation is issued under the authority of N.C.G.S. 113-134; 113- 170.4; 113-170.5; 113-182; 113-221.1; 143B-289.52 and Marine Fisheries Rules 15A NCAC 3M .0503, 3M .0506 and .0512 and 3O. 0500.

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

C. The landing prohibition beginning at 6:00 P.M. on November 23, 2006 will allow the Division to review landing reports. Approximately 70,000 pounds remain of the 2006 quota. Landings will be allowed by proclamation after that date if the 2006 annual quota has not been met.

D. For the purposes of this proclamation, fish shall be considered landed when fish are unloaded or the vessel is tied to the dock, whichever occurs first.

E. Marine Fisheries Rule 15A NCAC 3I .0113 specifies that it is unlawful for any licensee under Chapter 113, Subchapter IV of the General Statutes to refuse to allow the Fisheries Director or his agents to obtain biological data, harvest information, or other statistical data necessary or useful to the conservation and management of marine and estuarine resources from fish in the licensees possession.

F. Federal regulations for Fisheries of the Northeastern United States specify in 50 CFR Part 648.4(a)(7) that “any vessel of the United States that fishes for or retains black sea bass in or from the EEZ north of 35°15.3’ N. lat., the latitude of Cape Hatteras Light, NC, must have been issued and carry on board a valid black sea bass moratorium permit, except for vessels other than party or charter vessels that observe the possession limit established pursuant to §648.145.”

The intent of this proclamation is to allow North Carolina to comply with the requirements of the joint Mid-Atlantic Fisheries Management Council-Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass Fisheries Management Plan (FMP) and to manage the commercial black sea bass fishery under the state quota system established by the FMP. North Carolina is operating under a state quota and these trip limits and harvest periods are intended to constrain the harvest to the quota.

H. The minimum size limit for black sea bass south of Cape Hatteras is now 11 inches in total length for recreational purposes.

Copies of escape vent specifications for black sea bass pots north of Cape Hatteras are available via the Federal Register posted on the Internet at www.nero.nmfs.gov/ro/doc/the648.htm and from the Division of Marine Fisheries, P.O. Box 769, Morehead City, NC 28557.

J. This proclamation supersedes Proclamation FF-50-2006 (Revised), dated October 30, 2006. Note V. H. has been corrected to reflect that the new minimum size limit south of Hatteras pertains to black sea bass taken for recreational purposes.

November 9, 2006
3:15 P.M.
FF-52-2006
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