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Contact: Patricia Smith Commercial Ocean Striped Bass Fishermen Need Permit MOREHEAD CITY – Commercial fishermen wishing to participate in the ocean striped bass fishery this winter need to purchase an Atlantic Ocean Striped Bass Commercial Gear Permit. The permit costs $10 and is available at any N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries license office. Fisherman can also call the division to request a mail-in application. The permit must be obtained before Nov. 1 for a fisherman to be eligible to participate in the fishery this winter. Fishermen may obtain only one permit per person. At the time of permit application, the person holding the commercial fishing license or license assignment must declare what type of gear he intends to use: gill net, trawl or beach seine. Gear declarations are binding on the permit holder for three consecutive years without regard to subsequent annual permit issuance. Fishermen who obtained a permit last year must apply for another permit this year and declare the same gear type as last year. This is the second year North Carolina has required a commercial ocean striped bass gear permit. The permit was implemented to curtail conflicts between commercial fishermen competing for an annual quota. In the past, these conflicts have resulted in derby-style fishing and early season closures. For more information on the permit, contact Don Hesselman, chief of the DMF License and Statistics Section, at (252) 808-8099 or [email protected].
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