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Contact: Patricia Smith BAY SCALLOP SEASON OPENS IN PAMLICO SOUND MOREHEAD CITY – Due to recent sampling results, bay scallop season will open Monday in Pamlico Sound. N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries samples in January from the Hatteras area indicated that abundance of bay scallops in the waters is high enough to allow limited harvest in Pamlico Sound only. Division Director Louis Daniel issued a proclamation Friday that opens waters north of Wainwright Island as of 7:30 a.m. Monday. The season will close at 4 p.m. April 1. “This opening is in accordance with the state’s Bay Scallop Fishery Management Plan, which allows for bay scallop harvests when populations reach predetermined thresholds,” Daniel said. Other waters of the state will remain closed to bay scallop harvest. Bay scallops may be taken by hand, with hand rakes, hand tongs, dip nets and scoops from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on designated harvest days. Commercial fishermen may harvest five bushels per person per day on Monday, Wednesday and Friday of each week. There is a limit of 10 bushels per fishing operation, regardless of the number of fishermen on a boat. Recreational fishermen may harvest no more than one-half bushel of scallops per person per day on Saturday and Sunday of each week. There is a limit of one bushel per vessel per day, regardless of the number of fishermen on the boat. Recreational harvest limits cannot be combined with commercial harvest limits. No dredging of bay scallops will be allowed. For more information, contact division Fisheries Management Section Chief David Taylor during office hours at (252) 808-8074 or other times at (252) 633-5957. |