Contact: Patricia Smith
Date: Oct. 21, 2009
Phone: (252) 726-7021

FLOUNDER SEASON CLOSES TO PROTECT SEA TURTLES

MOREHEAD CITY – Waters in Pamlico Sound will close Thursday to the use of large-mesh gill nets. The intent of the closure is to protect threatened and endangered sea turtles.

The estimated number of live green sea turtles caught in flounder nets this season will surpass the maximum number allowed by a special permit from the National Marine Fisheries Service.

North Carolina manages the large-mesh gill net fishery in Pamlico Sound under a federal permit authorized by Section 10 of the Endangered Species Act, which went into effect after numerous sea turtle strandings in Pamlico Sound in 1999 and 2000. Investigations identified the deep-water, large-mesh gill net fishery for southern flounder as the primary source for the sea turtle interactions and subsequent mortalities.

The permit authorizes a limited shallow water fishery along the Outer Banks and mainland side of Pamlico Sound and mandates observer coverage and weekly reporting. The permit also requires a season closure when the number of sea turtle take estimates reaches pre-set thresholds established by NMFS.

As of Friday, estimates of live green sea turtle interactions were at 111. The Section 10 Permit requires closure of the fishery when the estimated takes exceed 120 live green sea turtles.

Additionally, six more takes of green sea turtles were documented by Tuesday, which when extrapolated, will surpass the threshold for estimated green sea turtle takes.

The closure starts at 6 p.m. Thursday and will prohibit the use of gill nets with larger than 4 ¼-inch stretched mesh. It will remain in effect for the rest of the 2009 southern flounder season.

The closure does not prohibit the use of small mesh gill nets (smaller than or equal to 4 ¼-inch stretched mesh), and observations of the small mesh fishery will continue.