28 April MOREHEAD CITY -- In 1997, North Carolina commercial fishermen landed over 228 million pounds of seafood, valued at $109 million.
The North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF), which is responsible for monitoring seafood landings, reports that 1997 landings outweighed 1996 landings by 37 million pounds. In 1996, over 191 million pounds of seafood was landed at North Carolina ports, worth $105.5 million. Topping the landings list is Atlantic menhaden with 97.5 million pounds harvested, valued at $8.7 million. Hard blue crabs dropped 11 million pounds from last year’s record high, to 54.4 million pounds harvested worth $33.2 million, making the 1997 harvest the second largest landings of crabs on record. Menhaden and hard crabs are followed by thread herring, croaker, dogfish sharks and shrimp in pounds landed.
Landing statistics are gathered by the DMF Trip Ticket Program which collects data on North Carolina commercial landings and effort (trips) by requiring seafood dealers to record each landing of fish and shellfish, and submit copies of “trip tickets” on a monthly basis. Information entered on a trip ticket includes data on the species and amount of seafood caught, the type of gear used, and the fishing location. The data gathered from the program help fishery managers and the commercial fishing industry ensure that North Carolina marine resources remain well-managed and abundant.
To receive the North Carolina Commercial Landings for 1997 or for more information about the trip ticket program, contact Dee Lupton, DMF-Morehead City, at 919/726-7021 or 1-800/682-2632 or via e-mail Dee_Lupton@mail.ehnr.state.nc.us. View 1997 Landings Data
The information is also available in Adobe Acrobat format for downloading. Go here to download.
24 April MOREHEAD CITY — The Division of Parks and Recreation (DPR) has requested the Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) to prohibit commercial fishing activities in the Pamlico River within 100 yards of the shoreline adjacent to Goose Creek State Park.
A meeting to receive public comment about this issue will be held on May 4, 1998 at 7 p.m. at the auditorium at Goose Creek Visitor’s Center. Goose Creek State Park is located off Leech Road, approximately 10 miles east of Washington, N.C.
For more information on this meeting, please contact Gregory Judy, DMF-Washington, at 252/946-6481 or Scott Kershner, DPR, at 252/923-2191.
22 April MOREHEAD CITY -- The North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission will hold a business meeting April 29 - May 1, at the Hatteras/Buxton Civic Center in Hatteras, N.C.
The meeting is open to the public.
For more information, contact Jess Hawkins, DMF- Morehead City, at 1-800/682-2632 or 919/726-7021.
17 April MOREHEAD CITY -- The striped bass hook-and-line season will close in the Albemarle Sound Management Area on Wednesday, April 22, 1998.
Officials with the Division of Marine Fisheries, announced the season closure after determining the recreational harvest quota of 31,000 pounds of striped bass will be reached by the closure date. The harvest quota is part of a state management plan to conserve and restore the striped bass fishery.
The Albemarle Sound Management Area includes the Albemarle, Currituck, Croatan and Roanoke sounds and their inland and joint water tributaries, except for the Roanoke, Eastmost, Middle and Cashie rivers.
For more information, contact Harrel B. Johnson, District Manager, Northern Regional Office, 1367 US 17 South, Elizabeth City, NC 27909 -- (800) 338-7805 or (919) 264-3911.
April 9 MOREHEAD CITY -- River herring fishermen, who hold a valid special pound net permit, will be allowed to continue harvesting river herring in the Chowan River Management Area only, until 1 p.m. on Friday, April 17, 1998.
River herring and shad season closes in all state waters on April 15 each year. Officials with the Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) announced the two-day season extension in the Chowan River because river herring fishermen in this area have not harvested their total allowable catch of 400,000 pounds.
The season could be lengthened for an additional time period if the entire quota is not harvested during the initial two-day extension.
For more information on river herring, please call Harrel Johnson or Sara Winslow, DMF-Elizabeth City, at (919)264-3911 or (800)338-7805.
April 8 MOREHEAD CITY -- The commercial season for striped bass will close today, Wednesday, April 8, 1998, in all state waters except the Cape Fear River.
Officials with the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) have projected that 100,000 pounds of striped bass have been harvested from the Albemarle Sound Management Area during the 1998 winter season, leaving an estimated 25,000 pounds for the fall season. In the Pamilco Sound and the Pamilco, Pungo, Bay, Neuse and Trent rivers, it is projected that 19,500 pounds of striped bass have been harvested during the 1998 winter season, leaving 5,500 pounds to be used this fall.
The commercial season for striped bass in the Cape Fear River closes by rule on April 30, 1998.
For more information regarding this closure, contact Harrel Johnson, DMF-Elizabeth City at (919)264-3911 or (800)338-7805.