FISHERIES COMMISSION ADDRESSES GILL NET/SEA TURTLE ISSUE

KITTY HAWK - The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission today adopted measures to address interactions with sea turtles in the state’s gill net fishery.

A lawsuit was recently filed against the commission, the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries and Director Louis Daniel in federal court by the Duke Environmental Law and Policy Clinic on behalf of the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center. The lawsuit claims violations of the Endangered Species Act regarding unauthorized sea turtle interactions with gill nets.   

In response, the commission voted to repeal measures it adopted at a Feb. 18 meeting in New Bern, and unanimously approved the following motion:

Motion by Bradley Styron for director to continue development of a statewide section 10 permit and implement as interim measures for large mesh gill nets in internal coastal waters, effective May 15, as follows:

1. Define large mesh as 4-to-6.5 inches
2. Limit soak time :
   7 p.m. Monday to 7 a.m. Tuesday
   7 p.m. Tuesday to 7 a.m. Wednesday
   7 p.m. Wednesday to 7 a.m. Thursday
   7 p.m. Thursday to 7 a.m. Friday
3. Deploy low profile large mesh gill nets consisting of a net height of no more than 15 meshes with all cork and other buoys removed except as required for identification, set in individual 100-yard shots with at least a 25-yard break between individual shots
4. Maximum amount of large mesh gill net shall be 2,000 yards per commercial fishing operation (regardless of the number of licensed fishermen on board)

These measures will be effective May 15 and will be enforced statewide in internal coastal waters and year-round.

Daniel said he will implement the measures by proclamation.