Contact: Patricia Smith
Date: Oct. 3, 2008
Phone: (252) 726-7021

COMMENTS SOUGHT ON ARTIFICIAL REEF PLAN

MOREHEAD CITY – The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries will hold a series of meetings this month to get public input on updating the state’s master plan for artificial reefs.

The public is invited to attend the meetings and speak on subjects, such as best management practices and allowable gears, reef locations as well as reef monitoring, evaluation and marking.

The division is considering revisions to the plan that include prohibiting the use of some commercial fishing gears within a specified distance of artificial reefs.

Changes to the plan require approval of the division director. Upon receiving approval, the division will proceed through the Marine Fisheries Commission with any needed rulemaking activities.

Comments will be taken in conjunction with the commission’s regional advisory committee meetings set for:

Oct. 7 at 6 p.m.
N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission’s Southeast Regional Advisory Committee
NCDENR Regional Office, 127 Cardinal Drive, Wilmington, N.C.
Contact: Rich Carpenter at (800) 248-4636 or (910) 796-7291 or the Marine Fisheries Commission’s office at (252) 808-8022

Oct. 14 at 6 p.m.
N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission’s Inland Regional Advisory Committee
McKimmon Center for Extension and Continuing Education, 1101 Gorman Street, Raleigh, N.C.
Contact: Randy Gregory at (252) 808-8078 or (800) 682-2632 or the Marine Fisheries Commission’s office at (252) 808-8022

Oct. 15 at 6 p.m.
N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission’s Central Regional Advisory Committee
Duke Marine Laboratory Auditorium, 135 Duke Marine Lab Road, Beaufort, N.C.
Contact: Mike Marshall (252) 808-8077 or (800) 682-2632 or Marine Fisheries Commission’s office at (252) 808-8022

Oct. 16 at 6:30 p.m.
N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission’s Northeast Regional Advisory Committee
Roanoke Island Festival Park, 1 Festival Park, Manteo, N.C.
Contact: Sara Winslow at (252) 264-3911 or MFC Office at (252) 808-8022

For more information, contact Craig Hardy, division chief of Resource Enhancement, at (800) 682-2632 or (252) 808-8046 or Craig.Hardy@ncmail.net.