M-5-2008

PROCLAMATION

RE: LARGE MESH GILL NET MAXIMUM SIZE

Louis B. Daniel III, Director, Division of Marine Fisheries, hereby announces that effective at 8:00 A.M., Monday, March 3, 2008, the following restrictions will apply to gill nets:

AREA DESCRIPTION

Internal Fishing Waters south of a line in Pamlico Sound beginning at a point on Roanoke Marshes Point 35° 48.3693’N- 75° 43.7232’ W, running southeasterly to the north point of Eagle Nest Bay 35° 44.1710’N – 75° 31.0520' W [southern boundary of the Albemarle Sound Management Area (ASMA)].

The following waterbodies are exempted from the area description above for the purposes of this proclamation:

A. Pamlico and Pungo rivers and their joint and coastal water tributaries west of a line beginning at a point on the north shore 35° 22.3622’ N - 76° 28.2032’ W (Roos Point) running southerly through Marker #1 to a point on the south shore 35° 18.5906’N - 76° 28.9530’ W (Pamlico Point).
B. Jones Bay/Bay River - west of a line at Sow Island Point at 35° 13.0166’N-76° 29.7000' W, running southwest to a point at Bay Point at 35° 11.0833' N-76° 31.5666'W, then running southerly to Maw Point at 35° 9.0333’ N - 76° 32.1666' W.
C. Neuse River - west of a line beginning at Maw Point at 35° 09.0333' N-76° 32.1666’ W, running southeast to Point of Marsh at 35° 04.5500' N- 76° 28.2333’ W.

II. MAXIMUM MESH SIZE

In all waters south of the southern boundary of the ASMA EXCEPT those described in I.A., B. and C. above, it is unlawful to use gill nets with a mesh size of more than 6 1/2 inches (stretched mesh) or possess striped bass aboard a vessel when a gill net with a mesh length greater than 6 ½ inches (stretched mesh) is onboard the vessel.

In those waters described in I.A., B. and C. ONLY above, nets greater than 6 ½ inches stretched mesh) may be used in the striped bass fishery.

III. GENERAL INFORMATION

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

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

C. The intent of this proclamation is to allow the harvest of flounder and shad while reducing the taking of red drum and sturgeon in portions of the Central/Southern Area. The maximum gill net size requirement of 6 ½ inches (stretched mesh) will be reinstated in the Central/Southern area following the Central/Southern area commercial striped bass season.

D. This proclamation supersedes Proclamation M-3-2008, dated February 4, 2008.

February 26, 2008
2:00 P.M.
M-5-2008
/sab