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Contact: Patricia Smith COMMERCIAL OCEAN STRIPED BASS FISHERMEN NEED NEW 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. This new 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 fishermen to be eligible to participate in the fishery. Fishermen will be allowed to 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. North Carolina’s commercial striped bass fishery has a history of being a contentious one with fishermen competing for an annual quota. It has, in the past, resulted in derby-style fishing and early season closures. The state had planned to institute this permit in the fall of 2008, but the N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission delayed the requirement to allow time to research other options for solving conflict issues between fishermen. Other options under consideration include the use of limited access privilege programs. For more information on the permit, contact Don Hesselman, chief of the DMF License and Statistics Section, at (252) 808-8099 or [email protected]. |