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M-17-2006 PROCLAMATION RE: GILL NETS – ATLANTIC OCEAN Preston P. Pate, Jr., Director, Division of Marine Fisheries, hereby announces that effective at 12:01 A.M., Saturday, December 16, 2006 the following provisions shall apply to the use of commercial large mesh gill nets in the Atlantic Ocean: AREA DESCRIPTION: During seasons established by proclamation for the harvest of striped bass from the Atlantic Ocean with gill nets. B. During seasons established by proclamation for the harvest of monkfish from the Atlantic Ocean with gill nets in a one mile wide area extending from two miles seaward of the coastline to three miles seaward of the coastline from the North Carolina/Virginia state line southward to Wimble Shoal (Latitude 35° 30’N). C. Large mesh gill nets set under the exceptions listed above shall be fished at least once every 48 hours, weather permitting. III. GENERAL INFORMATION: 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. Seasons and areas opened under the exemptions in II. A. and II. B. above may be closed or modified by proclamation if reliable Sea Surface Temperature data indicates that water temperatures are greater than 11° C or when interactions occur between large mesh gill nets and marine mammals or sea turtles. D. The intent of this proclamation is to allow traditional large mesh gill net fisheries for striped bass and monkfish to be pursued in state waters while reducing the threat of interactions between this gear and bottlenose dolphins and other marine mammals and sea turtles. The Atlantic Ocean is closed to the use of gill nets greater than seven (7) inches from April 15 through December 15 by N.C. Marine Fisheries Rule 15A NCAC 3J .0202 (7).
December 13, 2006 |