June 24, 1997

June 19, 1999 ~ June 19, 1997 ~ June 13, 1997

SHRIMP MEETING TO BE HELD JUNE 28

June 24 MOREHEAD CITY -- The North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) will hold a meeting at 7 p.m. on Saturday, June 28, at the Harkers Island Fire and Rescue Squad Building, to discuss shrimp management in the estuaries of Newport and North rivers.

The DMF Director has proclamation authority to move lines in coastal waters that open and close areas to shrimp harvest, based of the size of shrimp present. The proclamation process allows the DMF to respond quickly to local situations, such as heavy rainfalls, and move the lines so the larger shrimp may be harvested. The flexibility of the proclamation process can also result in controversy when fishermen make contradictory requests to move the line upstream or leave it alone.

The DMF would like to explain their management rationale to fishermen and receive suggestions from the public regarding shrimp management practices, in order to avoid much of the conflict that has surrounded previous shrimp seasons.

For additional information on this meeting or shrimp seasons, please call David Taylor, DMF-Morehead City, at 919/726-7021 or 1-800/682-2632.

ATTENTION COMMERCIAL FISHERMEN AND SEAFOOD DEALERS:
NEW PERMANENT NUMBERS FOR 1998 ENDORSEMENT TO SELL LICENSES

June 19 MOREHEAD CITY -- Beginning July 1, 1997, the Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) will issue new permanent Endorsement to Sell numbers when fishermen purchase their 1998 licenses.

The Endorsement to Sell License permits fishermen and seafood dealers to buy or sell seafood in North Carolina. In the past, this license number varied from year to year. In order improve customer service and to simplify the licensing process, the DMF will begin issuing permanent Endorsement to Sell License numbers with the sale of the 1998 licenses.

In order to renew Endorsement to Sell Licenses, fishermen must present any of the following documents to DMF license agents:

1997 Endorsement to Sell License (blue card)
1997 Endorsement to Sell License receipt
DMF letter reflecting 1997 Endorsement to Sell License number

If fishermen are unable to present any of the above items, or if they did not have a 1997 Endorsement to Sell, they are required to apply by mail or in person at the DMF Headquarters in Morehead City.

For more information about the permanent number for the Endorsement to Sell Licenses, or for more information about the licensing process, please call the DMF License Unit at 1-800/682-2632 or 919/726-7021.

1998 FISHING LICENSES AVAILABLE JULY 1

June 19 MOREHEAD CITY --The new 1998 commercial fishing licenses will be available starting July 1, 1997 from the Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) and license agents across the state.

The 1997 licenses will be valid until midnight on July 31, but after that date you must have a 1998 license if you are engaging in a commercial fishing activity. Officials with the DMF cautioned if you are inspected by a Marine Patrol officer and you do not have your new license after July 31, 1997, a citation could be issued.

The following is a list of licenses sold by the DMF:

Vessel License*
Crab License*
Endorsement to Sell-Non-vessel*
Seafood Dealer's License
Ocean Pier License
Charter Boat License 		Shellfish License*
Vessel Crab License*
Endorsement to Sell-Vessel
Spotter Plane License
Land or Sell License
License to Land Flounder

(NOTE: *Sales subject to Fishing License Moratorium criteria)

Beginning July 1, 1997, new permanent Endorsement to Sell License numbers will be issued to fishermen to allow faster access to their landings data.

Charter Boat Licenses, Dealer’s Licenses, and the License to Land Flounder will be issued only by the DMF Headquarters in Morehead City, as well as all transfers and replacements of vessel licenses.

Fishermen must present the following documents when purchasing 1998 licenses:

Current Boat Registration or US Customs documentation

Pictured identification

Notarized bill of sale with Hull I.D. number or Boat Registration number

For more information on licensing requirements, costs, or locations of license agents, please call the License Unit, DMF-Morehead City, at 919/ 726-7021 or 1- 800/ 682-2632.

MARINE FISHERIES COMMISSION APPROVES NEW RULES

June 13 MOREHEAD CITY -- At a recent quarterly business meeting, held on June 5, the Marine Fisheries Commission (MFC) adopted a number of permanent and temporary rules and voted to take the following items to public hearing later this summer:

PUBLIC HEARING ISSUES:

  • Definition of a educational institution for the purposes of aquaculture development projects.
  • List bottom disturbing gears for restriction on shellfish leases and franchises unless authorized: trawls, long haul seines, swipe nets, dredges or mechanical methods for harvesting clams or oysters.
  • Prohibit pots in marked and maintained ferry turning basins.
  • Definition of fork length for measuring finfish.
  • Definition of shrimp and crab trawling in the Atlantic Ocean.
  • Establish a bag limit of 10 American or hickory shad taken by hook-and-line. Upon completion of fishery management plans establish proclamation authority on size, season, quantity, and harvest methods for American and hickory shad, and river herring.
  • Closure of New River above Hwy. 172 bridge to night trawling from Aug. 15 to Nov. 30, when this area is open by proclamation.
  • Closure of Atlantic Ocean south of Frying Pan Shoals to shrimp trawling at night.
  • Establish a 2 ½ inch stretched mesh minimum size for gill nets.
    PERMANENT RULES ADOPTED:
  • DMF Director has proclamation authority to establish trip limits on the ocean flounder fishery.
  • DMF Director has proclamation authority to close the flounder season if the quota is projected to be filled after the fall re-opening.
  • DMF Director has proclamation authority to set restrictions on scup, and also on black sea bass north of Cape Hatteras in order to comply with the Mid-Atlantic Fisheries Management Council/ Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission fishery management plans.
  • Deleted the 22-inch size limit on yellowfin tuna.
    TEMPORARY RULES ADOPTED:
  • Established 14-inch commercial size limit for flounder taken from the Atlantic Ocean.
  • Established 14 ½-inch size limit/10 fish-per-day bag limit for flounder taken from the Atlantic Ocean by hook-and-line or gig. Individuals who possess an Endorsement to Sell may adhere to commercial harvest restrictions when fishing with a hook-and-line or gig.

    For more information contact Jess Hawkins, DMF- Morehead City, at 919/726-7021.