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MARINE FISHERIES COMMISSION SEEKS STRIPED BASS ADVISORS

MOREHEAD CITY - The North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission is looking for interested individuals to serve as advisors in developing the Estuarine Striped Bass Fishery Management Plan (FMP).

Two advisory committees will be assembled to assist in developing long-term management goals for striped bass. One panel's focus will be on fishery in the Albemarle Sound and Roanoke River, while the other advisory committee will concentrate on striped bass in the Tar-Pamlico, Neuse, and Cape Fear rivers.

FMPs include information on the nature and concerns of the fishery, habitat and water quality issues, and status of the stocks. The goal of the FMP will be to develop management options for each stock to address issues and concerns. The FMP will be prepared jointly by the Division of Marine Fisheries, Marine Fisheries Commission, Wildlife Resources Commission, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Individuals interested in serving as advisors should be willing to attend meetings at least once every two months and actively participate in the committee process. Advisors will be reimbursed for travel and other expenses incurred in relation to their official duties.

Advisor applications are available at any Division of Marine Fisheries' offices or by calling 252-726-7021 or 1-800-682-2632. Applications should be returned by September 24, 2001 to the Division of Marine Fisheries, P.O. Box 769, Morehead City, North Carolina 28557, Attention: Jess Hawkins.

STATE ANNOUNCES GILL NET RESTRICTIONS IN PAMLICO SOUND

Measures Taken to Protect Sea Turtles

MOREHEAD CITY - New gillnet restrictions impacting portions of Pamlico Sound are being established to protect the fall migration of endangered and threatened sea turtles, according to officials with the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF).

In 2000, there were 838 turtle strandings in North Carolina's coastal waters, with the majority of interactions occurring in the ocean and deep water portions of the Pamlico Sound. Last year, the cause of 91 percent of sea turtles injuries and mortalities in the state was unknown, with some strandings being traced to boating interactions, cold water events, entanglement in fishing gear, mutilation and disease. Through Aug. 11 of this year, there have been 173 turtles stranded - 93 in ocean waters and 80 in coastal sounds and rivers.

The DMF has worked closely with the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), the federal agency with jurisdiction over sea turtles, to find ways to protect the turtles by limiting interactions with fishing gear during the fall flounder season. On Aug. 1, DMF applied to NMFS for an incidental take permit under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, to allow the state to implement special management measures to allow a restricted fishery.

Monitoring has shown few interactions between turtles and gill nets in shallow water (areas less than 10 feet deep) on the eastern side of Pamlico Sound, so a limited fishery will be allowed in these areas this fall. From Sept. 15 through Dec. 15, large mesh gill nets (greater than five inches) will be allowed in three shallow water areas behind Hatteras and Ocracoke islands. Fishermen can use a maximum of 2,000 yards of large mesh gill net and 2,000 yards of small mesh gill nets (five inches or less). Small mesh nets must be attended at all times from Sept. 15 - Oct. 31. Fishermen must apply to the DMF for special permits to participate in these fisheries.

In past years, high numbers of sea turtles have been observed around Hatteras and Ocracoke inlets during the fall migration. These areas will be closed to all large mesh nets from Sept. 15 through Dec. 15. Fishermen holding special DMF permits for participation in this fishery will be allowed up to 2,000 yards of attended small mesh gill nets from Sept. 15 - Oct. 31.

It is anticipated NMFS will close the majority of deep water areas of the Pamlico Sound to large mesh gill nets later this fall.

If these measures do not adequately protect the turtles, further restrictions will be implemented.

For more information on these restrictions, please contact Fentress Munden by e-mail at Red.Munden@ncmail.net or Jeff Gearhart by email at Jeff.Gearhart@ncmail.net or by calling 252-726-7021 or 1-800-682-2632. Visit the DMF's Website at: www.ncdmf.net/procs/ to view the proclamation implementing these restrictions.

WEAKFISH UPGRADED TO VIABLE

Other Tar Heel Stocks Remain Stable According to a State Report on Coastal Fisheries

MOREHEAD CITY - In the early 1990s, weakfish along the east coast were in serious trouble. The future of this popular fish, also known as gray trout, was grim because stocks were severely overfished.

Today, there is good news. After years of intensive conservation and recovery efforts by state and federal managers and significant sacrifices by fishermen from the mid and south Altantic states, all stock indicators show North Carolina weakfish are in good shape and the stock has been declared viable.

According to the state Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) Director Pres Pate, the credit for the recovery goes to the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's fishery management plan process. Fishery management plans, or FMPs, as they are more commonly known, describe the nature and problems of a fishery along with regulatory recommendations to conserve that fishery. Regional plans are developed through the Mid and South Atlantic fisheries management councils and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission for migratory species like weakfish, that move up and down the eastern seaboard. State-level plans are developed for non-migratory stocks like southern flounder and blue crab.

"The take-home message here is FMPs work," said Pate. "By collaborating with partner states, federal agencies, and fishermen, we were able to map out and implement a proactive, long-term recovery strategy for weakfish that today has resulted in a record high spawning stock biomass, along with a continuous expansion of the age structure in the population. In other words, we now have lots of females producing babies and those babies are growing older and successfully contributing to the stock."

While the comeback is good news, Pate cautioned that regulators will not immediately ease fishing restrictions. "Even though the stock has been declared viable, it is still vulnerable and must be protected," said Pate. "We will maintain the current harvest restrictions for the foreseeable future, and gradually lessen restrictions as the stock continues to build. We can't fling the doors wide open and let folks return to wasteful fishing practices of the past. If we do that we will wind up right back where we were in the early 90s," Pate said.

The DMF's annual stock status report evaluates the health of North Carolina's important coastal fisheries, spotlighting successes, as well as areas of concern. Of the 40 stocks listed, 12 fall into the viable and recovering categories, 12 are listed as concerned, 10 are listed as overfished, and six are listed as unknown. The North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission uses this report to decide priority development of the state's fishery management plans.

Weakfish was the major classification change in the 2001 report. Other changes include shifting American shad and striped bass (in waters other than the ocean, Albemarle and Roanoke sounds) from the unknown to the concerned category, because more information has become available this past year. In addition, yellow perch was added to the stock status list for the first time during this assessment.

Several stocks were not upgraded but continue to show strong signs of improvement under the FMP process.

Summer flounder, which is managed through an FMP developed by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, of which North Carolina is a partner, is continuing a strong recovery. Older, more productive spawners, are increasing in abundance and the spawning stock biomass was at a record level in 1999. The stock is listed as recovering and will likely be moved to the viable category next year if rebuilding trends continue.

The outlook also appears good for red drum, the state's saltwater fish. In 1998, temporary rules and harvest restrictions were implemented to begin stabilizing the red drum stock as part of the initial FMP development. The plan was finalized in April 2001 and the state Marine Fisheries Commission is in the process of fully implementing the plan's regulatory recommendations. Even though the stock is still listed as overfished, several strong year classes continue to make their way into the spawning stock, which is very encouraging for fisheries managers.

While many stocks show signs of improvement, some stocks have problems.

Although North Carolina led the nation in blue crab harvest in 2000, landings were off by 46 percent in the Neuse River and Pamlico Sound. In 2001, crabs, the state's most valuable fishery, appear scarce throughout coastal waters. The shortage of crabs is thought to be linked to flooding associated with Hurricane Floyd in 1999. It appears only blue crabs were immediately impacted by the hurricane, but it is too early to determine the long-term affects of the storm and associated flooding on the overall health of our fisheries.

Concern still exists for striped mullet due to increased pressure and depressed harvest landings. The DMF continues intensive sampling to assess the impact increased fishing pressure has on this stock and believes data will be sufficient to conduct an assessment in 2002-2003.

Croakers continue to be plentiful in ocean waters, but virtually absent from sounds and inside waters. This trend has been ongoing for several years and has fisheries managers worried about the viability of the stock.

To determine the status of Tar Heel fisheries, the DMF collects data and analyzes long-term trends in the length, weight, age, catch, and fishing effort for each stock. It also evaluates the total weight of the fish in a stock that are old enough to spawn, the number of juvenile or immature fish, fishing mortality, natural mortality, migration, size and age at maturity, regulatory impacts and bycatch.

Fish and shellfish stocks considered viable are striped bass in the Albemarle Sound and the ocean, dolphin/wahoo, king and Spanish mackerel, Atlantic menhaden, spot, spotted seatrout (speckled trout), shrimp and weakfish.

Recovering stocks include bluefish and summer flounder.

Stocks listed as concerned include black sea bass south of Cape Hatteras, striped bass (in waters other than the ocean, Albemarle and Roanoke sounds), Atlantic croaker, southern flounder, striped mullet, white and yellow perch, reef fish, American shad, bay scallops, oysters and blue crabs.

Black sea bass north of Cape Hatteras, red drum, gag grouper, river herring in the Albemarle Sound, monkfish, scup, sharks, dogfish, Atlantic sturgeon and tautog are listed as overfished.

The DMF does not have sufficient data to conduct appropriate assessments on the status of some stocks. These stocks are listed as unknown and include catfishes, American eel, river herring outside of Albemarle Sound, kingfishes (sea mullet), hickory shad and hard clams. The DMF is collecting the necessary assessment information for these important fisheries and will be moving many of these stocks into the appropriate categories over the next few years.

Visit the DMF's Web site at: http://www.ncdmf.net/stocks/index.html to view the new stock status report, along with species profiles and a glossary of fisheries terms. For more information about this stock status assessment, please contact Dr. Louis Daniel, DMF - Morehead City, by e-mail at Louis.Daniel@ncmail.net or by phoning at 1-800-682-2632 or 252-726-7021.

STRIPED BASS MEETINGS TO BE HELD

MOREHEAD CITY – The Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) will hold two public meetings in late August to discuss the upcoming striped bass commercial and recreational seasons in the Albemarle Sound Management Area and the Atlantic Ocean.

On, Wednesday evening, August 22, the DMF will meet in Elizabeth City at the College of the Albemarle. From 7pm - 8 pm, a discussion will be held on the recreational season in the Albemarle Sound Management Area, including the season, harvest days, daily creel limit and quotas. From 8 pm – 9 pm, the meeting will focus on commercial issues, including the season opening, quotas and daily landing limits.

Tuesday, August 28, the DMF will hold a similar meeting in Manteo at Festival Park. From 6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., the recreational and commercial fisheries in the Albemarle Sound Management Area will be discussed, including the season openings, harvest days, daily creel and landing limits, and season quotas. This will be followed by a discussion regarding the commercial season in the Atlantic Ocean from 7:30 p.m. – 9 p.m. Topics to be talked about during the second segment of the meeting include harvest allocations to the beach seine, gill net and trawl fisheries, along with the timing of the season opening and daily landing limits.

Fishermen and interested public are encouraged to attend these meetings to learn more about striped bass management and share their thoughts on these important fisheries with the DMF.

For further information, please contact Sara Winslow, Division of Marine Fisheries, by e-mail at Sara.Winslow@ncmail.net or by phone at 800-338-7805 or 252-264-3911.

MARINE FISHERIES COMMISSION TO MEET AUGUST 16 AND 17

MOREHEAD CITY -- The Marine Fisheries Commission will hold a business meeting August 16 and 17 at the Four Points Sheraton in Wilmington.

The meeting is open to the public.

A public hearing and meeting will also be held at 7 p.m. on August 15 at the Brunswick Community College's Teaching Auditorium, in Supply.

For more information, contact Jess Hawkins by e-mail at Jess.Hawkins@ncmail.net or by calling 1-800-682-2632 or 252-726-7021.

NOTE: Meeting Agenda

MARINE PATROL PROTECTS SEAFOOD CONSUMERS
Clammer Arrested for Fishing in Polluted Area

MOREHEAD CITY - Just after midnight, on Friday, August 3, North Carolina Marine Patrol officers nabbed a fisherman illegally harvesting clams that had the potential to cause serious public health problems.

Roy Jefferson Abbott, Jr., 22, of Sea Level, was charged with one felony count of taking shellfish from a polluted area at night. In addition, he was charged with harvesting shellfish without a license and failure to properly tag the clams - both misdemeanor violations.

"Shellfish found in polluted areas can store high concentrations of contaminants that can make the consumer extremely ill, in some cases even causing death," said Marine Patrol Colonel Joe Lynch.

Lynch explained, "Protecting the public health is one of our primary missions, that is why this offense carries such a stiff penalty. And in addition to health implications, just one outbreak of a shellfish-related illness can send the market value of all of our shellfish products plummeting."

North Carolina has an excellent reputation for producing high quality shellfish. There has never been a documented outbreak of serious illness associated with shellfish harvested from Tar Heel waters, according to the state Office of Shellfish Sanitation. This is due, in part, to the constant vigil the Marine Patrol keeps on state waters to ensure the safety of Tar Heel seafood.

Officers John Martin, Dean Nelson and Jimmy Paylor participated in the arrest in the Nelson's Bay area of eastern Carteret County. The Marine Patrol is the law enforcement component of the state Division of Marine Fisheries. Officers patrol 4,000 miles of coastline and 2.4 million acres of coastal and ocean waters.

FISHERIES HEARINGS SCHEDULED

MOREHEAD CITY - The Marine Fisheries Commission (MFC) will be holding a series of six public hearings in eastern North Carolina during the next several months.

The MFC will receive public comment on the following proposed rules at these hearings: