M-9-2008

PROCLAMATION

RE: GILL NETS- WESTERN PAMLICO SOUND AND RIVERS

Dr. Louis B. Daniel III, Director, Division of Marine Fisheries, hereby announces that effective at 12:01 A.M. on Thursday, May 1, 2008, the following restrictions will apply to gill nets with a mesh length greater than five inches:

AREA DESCRIPTION

All internal fishing waters west (upstream) of the 76° 28.0000’W longitude line which passes near Roos Point at the mouth of Pungo River south to Point of Marsh at the mouth of the Neuse River.

II. GEAR RESTRICTIONS

A. It is unlawful to fail to equip gill nets with tie downs spaced no farther apart than 10 yards, restricting the vertical distance between the top and bottom lines to 36 inches or less. Nets must be set so as to fish on the bottom and not exceed a vertical height of 36 inches.

B. It is unlawful for any portion of the net to be within 50 yards of any point on shore when set or deployed in the following river areas:

1. Neuse River - Upstream of a line beginning at a point at Cooper Point 35° 02.1433’N – 76° 55.9965’W; running southwesterly to a point at Fisher Landing Point 35° 00.1550’N – 76° 58.5738’W.
2. Pamlico River - Upstream of a line beginning at a point at Gum Point 35° 25.1669’N – 76° 45.5251’W; running southwesterly to a point at Fork Point at 35° 23.4453’N – 76° 46.4346’W.
3. Pungo River - Upstream of a line beginning at a point at Sandy Point 35° 26.8680’N – 76° 33.9520’W; running southwesterly to a point on the west shore at 35° 26.2810’N – 76° 35.5530’W.

C. Attended Recreational Commercial Gear License large mesh gill nets are exempt from II. B restriction.

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 per 15A NCAC 3H .0103.

C. The intent of this proclamation is to enact the requirements established by the North Carolina Estuarine Striped Bass Fishery Management Plan to reduce large mesh gill net bycatch and as an approved FMP measures by the North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission, September 2007.

D. N.C. Marine Fisheries Rules 15A NCAC 3J .0103 prohibits gill nets 5 to 5 ½ inch stretch mesh from April 15 through December 15.

April 28, 2008
12:00 P.M.
M-9-2008
/sab