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Contact: Patricia Smith Fisheries Commission Considers Authorizing Higher Oyster Harvest Limits in Pamlico Sound MOREHEAD CITY – The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission is considering allowing a higher oyster harvest limit for mechanical harvest in Pamlico Sound. A 30-day comment period on this proposal begins Wednesday and includes a public comment session at a Shellfish Advisory Committee meeting at 6 p.m. Oct. 4. The meeting will be held at the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries Central District Office, 5285 Highway 70 West, Morehead City. Currently, the director of the Division of Marine Fisheries opens oyster harvest and sets harvest limits by proclamation. However, the Oyster Fishery Management Plan limits mechanical oyster harvest to 15 bushels per operation per day. A recent resurgence of oyster landings to levels pre-dating the red tide of the late 1980s and higher market demand for oysters have resulted in increased requests for raising the daily harvest limit for mechanically harvested oysters. Additionally, oyster dealers and fishermen from Hyde County have formally petitioned the Marine Fisheries Commission to change the oyster harvest limits to allow two commercial fishermen, working together on one boat, to each take a daily harvest limit. The fishermen argue this will help them with operating expenses. The fishermen also say there are safety issues because one fisherman’s limit does not allow enough income for boat owners to hire a crewman to help with the harvest and provide first aid or rescue in the event of an accident. Hyde County Commissioners support this petition. The Marine Fisheries Commission is considering changing the fishery management plan to allow the director to determine the mechanical harvest limit, at his discretion, up to a set amount selected by the commission. Information collected by division staff indicate mechanical harvest could be as high as 25 bushels per operation per day, in periods of high abundance, without significantly impacting the sustainability of the stock. As another option, the Marine Fisheries Commission is considering allowing two fishermen, fishing on one vessel, to each keep a daily harvest limit. The changes would only apply to Pamlico Sound. Harvest limits in the bays around Pamlico Sound would not change. More information on the proposal can be found on the Division of Marine Fisheries website at http://www.ncfisheries.net/fmps/downloads/10-03-2010_DraftOysterFMP_Supplement.pdf. The changes are proposed under a new supplement process approved by the N.C. General Assembly this summer that allows the Marine Fisheries Commission to more quickly revise fishery management plans. The Marine Fisheries Commission will vote on the supplement at its Nov. 3-5 business meeting in New Bern. If approved, the harvest limits could change by proclamation as soon as 48 hours after approval. Written comments may be submitted to Mike Marshall, Central District Manager, N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries, 5285 Highway 70 West, Morehead City, 28557 or to [email protected]. Written comments must be received by 5 p.m. Oct. 15. For more information, contact Marshall at (252) 808-8077. nr-43-10 |