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MARINE FISHERIES RESCUES FISHERMEN

MOREHEAD CITY - The crew of the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries' research vessel Long Bay, rescued three fishermen from the Pamlico Sound, Wednesday morning, June 26.

Willy Blount, Steven McCabe and Wilberty Tooley were rescued from the stern of their sunken vessel near the Middle Ground Shoal in Pamlico Sound around 9 a.m. The trawler, Pair of Aces, sank Wednesday about 1 a.m., five miles offshore in 16 feet of water. The fishermen used a fire extinguisher to signal to the passing boat. License information indicates the Pair of Aces is owned by Henry Kevin Smith of Scranton, N.C.

Long Bay crew members, Capt. David Guthrie, Robert Kittrell, Steve Springle, Brad Nelson, and Wayne Taylor, were transporting oyster shells to be placed on an oyster reef in Pamlico Sound. Once the stranded fishermen were safely aboard the vessel, Capt. Guthrie contacted the Coast Guard, which dispatched a vessel out of Hobucken to retrieve the fishermen.

COMMERCIAL LICENSE DEADLINE APPROACHES
Fishermen Urged to Renew Licenses Early

MOREHEAD CITY - Commercial fishermen are reminded they only have a few days before their current fishing licenses expire.

All 2001/2002 commercial fishing licenses expire at midnight on June 30, 2002. In order to legally fish beginning July 1, fishermen must have a new 2002/2003 license.

Fishermen have the option of mailing in their applications or visiting any of the six DMF license offices along the coast to renew their licenses. It takes approximately two weeks to process an application via the mail. Fishermen are reminded to bring in current licenses and a photo identification for walk-in renewals.

This is the third year the DMF has offered the early renewal service. Since early May, 8,223 licenses have been renewed, which is roughly 30 percent of the 28,000 licenses typically sold during the fishing year.

Fishermen holding 2000/2001 Standard or Retired Commercial Fishing Licenses need to renew these licenses by June 30, 2002 to be eligible for the 2002/2003 licenses.

The Recreational Commercial Gear License (RCGL) expires one year from the date of purchase and can be renewed through any DMF license office or by visiting an authorized Wildlife Resources Commission license agent.

For more information regarding commercial fishing licenses, please call 252-726-7021 or 1-888-254-2024 (toll free).